Hospital Day # 18 - 12/19/23 - A Bad Day - Brittney Collapsed Like a Rock in the Bathroom

 

Hospital Day # 18 - 12/19/23 - A Bad Day - Brittney Collapsed Like a Rock in the Bathroom

So while videos of Brittney walking are encouraging and uplifting, the real picture of 95% of her days are of her curled up in darkness on her bed with a quiet cry when she’s awake (but she threatens me if I take a picture of her like that).

Today was a bad day.  Don’t get me wrong, we are blessed in many ways…alive, no new stroke or clots, and still in the wonderful stroke ICU care.

But Brittney is worn out from fighting. She need’s God’s strength and healing.

• She is frustrated with her inability to read, write, or do math yet (it takes awhile for her brain to heal)
• She is tired of hurting and being weak. She is afraid.
• She collapsed in the bathroom at the sink, but thankfully me and the nurse were able to drag her into bed without her being injured or losing consciousness.

Plus I picked up a virus.  Please pray that Brittney doesn’t get sick (she was exposed to me while I was contagious before I showed any symptoms).  We want to be together 100% of the time at this point because of the seriousness of her situation. I need healing. Brittney needs protection.

It is so hard to watch her progress and then regress. It is so hard to have no answers.  But God is with us, so we will move forward and stand firm in His strength.  But we treasure your prayers.  We are hurting.  Thank you for all of your love and prayers.

Ways to Pray:

• No new brain bleeds (they just rushed her back for a new CT scan) or blocked arteries
• Continued care in the ICU as long as we need it (it was a blessing that we had the extra care today…if Brittney had fallen and hit her head the results could have been devastating
• A private/individual room whenever we get stepped out of ICU
• Wisdom for the doctors to help Brittney
• God’s miraculous healing hand upon Brittney

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)

Here is a place where I’ve archived the posts from our 18 days of hospital stays so far.  www.jonathancarl.org 

Brittney loves cards! Details here: http://www.jonathancarl.org/.../hospital-day-13-1214-pm.html (thank you for the amazing amount of cards flowing in…we were able to read a few to her today!)

Hospital Day # 17 - 12/18/23 PM - Two More Weeks of Hospitalization To Go

Hospital Day # 17 - 12/18/23 PM - Two More Weeks of Hospitalization To Go

Brittney did really well today.  She ate well and was able to walk around the ICU 4 times.  She was awake much longer and impressed her therapists, nurses and doctors with her progress. We are so grateful for your continued prayers and encouragement.  Her headache pain was more manageable thankfully, but unfortunately she is now also struggling with severe leg cramps.  

Brittney’s situation has been described by her surgeon as “uncharted waters” since there is no conventional way to navigate. Her situation is tricky because she has to have blood thinner so that her 4 stents don’t clot up and cause her to stroke.  Simultaneously, her blood thinner cannot be the normal amount since she has already had a brain bleed stroke for unknown reasons.  So we will remain hospitalized for two more weeks in order to ensure adequate monitoring, testing, and adjustments to Brittney’s blood thinner medications.

Two more weeks. It is a lot to think about, but we trust the care team who is helping us.  We will take it all one day at a time and know that God will give us and our family the strength for each day. We covet your prayers as this is an especially hard season to be away from home.  Lord willing, we will 

Ways to Pray:

• For Brittney to get an INDIVIDUAL ROOM for the next two weeks (most rooms are double occupancy outside the ICU and we will be “downgraded” out of the ICU tomorrow)…an individual room would be a huge blessing for much needed rest
• For the next two weeks to fly by both for us and the girls
• For continued protection from brain bleeds and blood clots
• For relief from headache pain and leg cramps
• For a great nursing team in our next destination within the hospital
• For great physical, occupational, and speech therapy - for Brittney’s stroke recovery to progress rapidly with a full recovery ahead
• For the long term health and protection of Brittney’s arteries throughout her body

Matthew 6:27,33-34 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (ESV)

Here is a place where I’ve archived the posts from our 17 days of hospital stays so far.  www.jonathancarl.org 

Brittney loves cards! Details here: http://www.jonathancarl.org/.../hospital-day-13-1214-pm.html

Hospital Day # 17 - 12/18/23 AM - JUST FOR FUN - “Daddy’s Got Bad Blood” vs Mommy's Song?????

 

Hospital Day # 17 - 12/18/23 AM - JUST FOR FUN - “Daddy’s Got Bad Blood” vs Mommy's Song?????

A year ago I gained 2 feet of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or DVTs) in my left leg and had many pulmonary embolisms as well. Following my recovery, our daughters made a fun song (Lydia wrote the lyrics) that mirrored Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.” Our UL nurses loved the video so we thought we’d re-share :)

CONTEST: Just for fun, any ideas for the girls to write a humorous (or sweet) song for their mom’s health????

Winner gets a free hospital cafeteria lunch on me, yum!!!

All I could come up with was "Mommy's got a Bloody Brain" but that just didn't seem too catchy?

When the doctors ask Brittney, as part of their daily neurological checks, "Why are you here?", she is fond of saying (with a chuckle) "Because my brain is messed up" 

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine”