Lea Ann's Recovery

When Pigs Fly...and they did!!!

2009-05-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

I really don't even know if anyone reads this blog anymore...I don't get many comments except from my two most dedicated readers, my sis-in-law Laura and my friend from college Dawn. Thanks girls!

Well this weekend was such any awesome time that it is blogworthy for sure! Jake and I and some friends drove to Cincinnati and ran in the Flying Pig Marathon!!! Jake was the only brave soul to take on the full marathon and he was amazing finishing in just over 5 hrs. The rest of us stuck with the still daunting 1/2 marathon. I ran a personal best by far, finishing in 2 hrs and 14 min. It was my third go at half marathons and quite possibly my last. Jake took on the full 26.2 in my honor for having such a great year and I ran the half bc I just love to run...no...wait...it was just bc I could.

It was an awesome weekend but hopping in the car for a 5 hr drive directly after a looong run isn't something I'd recommend. Here are some pics!

rented a minivan for the trip!

erin, liz and i with the pig

race morning!

still dark at the race start

ready to go

we did it!

Jake crossing the finish line

refueling afterwards!

ONE YEAR TODAY!!!

2009-03-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

That's right! Exactly one year ago my life changed just a smidge. But you sure wouldn't know it now. I act the same, I talk the same and I like to think I look the same!
Just wanted to again say thank you for all the things done for me over the past year bringing me back to where I am. Here are a few of them, but certainly not all of them!
-Nikki and Laura for starting this blog
-My parents, family and friends for visiting me in the hospital
-Everyone for sending treats, flowers, cards and posting notes on here
-My mom for moving in and taking care of me and Jake
-My girlfriends for visiting me and bringing cake
-My dad and brother for making the trip several times
-Larry and Joyce for making the even longer trip
-Everyone who put in a good word to the Lord above for me
-Nathan and Liz for bringing me food NOT from the hospital
-And finally, Jake for putting up with all my crap. The guy didn't know what he signed up for but with the grace of God he's been a rock.
Is the music starting to play yet? I feel like I'm thanking people when you win an Oscar...and to the producer of this wonderful film... :)
Oh, and a couple things I'd like to say I'm sorry for...my breath in the ICU, to mom and Jake for having to help with the voids and BMs, to my dad for telling him when I was out of it that he couldn't go home when he had to, to my mom again for repeatedly complaining about my hair-do, and to anyone I complained to about physical therapy being too hard!
Cheers to many more healthy years ahead.

It's All Good

2009-03-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Had a follow up appointment with my neurologist and he reaffirmed that things look great up there! The vessel has reopened remarkably and there is no eclusion...basically the clot has dissolved/condensed wonderfully and blood is flowing without blockage! I'm weaning off the blood thinners and will be free of them in a matter of weeks! Bring on the full contact sports and sky diving :)
The seizue meds are something I'll be on as long as I choose to be. Since I won't be able to drive at all for 5-6 months while I wean off those and for a few months after, I'm going to have to find the most convenient time frame....as if there is one. Probably looking at next Jan. or so.
This Friday will be the 1 year anniversary for my stroke and I can't believe it's been that long! What a crazy and blessed year! How lucky I am!
Other than that, we've been traveling fools with my trips to Boise then Miami, we went to St. Louis for the weekend to see some friends, Jake heads to DC for the rest of the week for work....and many more fun and work trips planned for the summer! We don't seem to know how to sit still.

The MRI Spaceship

2009-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

I could do without another MRI or MR-Veinogram for let's say the next...FOREVER. Apparently I was a little more out of it then I thought I was for the others I had. I do NOT remember having my head put in a cage, another contraption/torture device placed on my chest and locked into the head cage and then being shoved into the MRI spaceship where you have to wear headphones or earplugs bc of the deafening sounds! I'm not claustraphobic, but it just seems like when you aren't supposed to move you just want to move that much more! But I survived with my trusty hubby by my side (what a trooper, he even parted with his blackberry to be with me).
They don't tell you much about what they see so we'll have to wait for the doc apt. next Tues. for results. They did have to take extra pics but weren't really clear on the reason why...view wasn't clear for a good shot of the "problem area." Excuse me, but I thought the "problem area" was supposed to be minimized or in check at this point?!?! Note to medical staff: if you can't say anything of substance or answer questions, please don't say anything.
So until next week I'll be questioning the "problem area" and watching a new bruise develop from the IV. Awesome.

My Sis and a Trip to Boise

2009-02-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Well it's always something! Since I'm about to reach my one year mark, I guess my sister decided to keep things interesting and hog all the attention with some minor pregnancy issues. She and baby boy are doing well now, but mom flew out to help with 18 month old Jacksen when she went to the hospital about 3 weeks ago. She's had some bleeding and contractions that put her on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy and got her a week in the hospital. So after being home for a week or so, more of the same issues and back in the hospital the day after I flew in for a visit. Needless to say, I only spent one night at their house and the rest of the time I've been here in the hospital with her. Good sister bonding time! She's at 34 weeks today and things are going really well, everything seems under control and per the ultrasound this morning the baby is 4lbs 13oz so he's in good shape! Mom is still here and I have a feeling will be until after the baby comes! Poor lady hasn't spent much time at her own house in the last year bw me and Nikki's hospital stays! And dad is left as a bachelor at home to fend for himself. God bless 'em both!
I'm headed back to Peoria today to see how the dog and cat are getting along under Jake's supervision. Not ready to leave Nik but that's the way it goes. Here are a few pics from my visit.

Nik's 29th bday is the hospital

Jacksen and best bud Gunther

me and Jack playing in the yard

All good news!

2009-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Although we've been covered in snow and ice all winter, we've managed to fit in some adventures. Recently, we went hiking at Starved Rock to check out the frozen waterfalls that people climb. It was awesome! See the pictures below...

Also, some FANTASTIC news I found out on Friday is...drum roll please...I got a fulltime job at the United Way!!!!! I've been working there since September as an Ambassador and they extended my contract through Feb. on a part time basis...now they've offered me a permanent spot as a Campaign Associate! It starts March 2nd. YAY!!!

Lastly, a little medical update. Since my one year anniversay of the stroke is just around the corner, I've scheduled my MRI and MR Venogram (where they run dye through your veins) for the beginning of March. Pending good results, I'll be weaned off the blood thinner...finally. Then there's the issue of the seizure meds. It's my choice if/when to wean off those, but I will...and when I do that means NO driving for 5-6 months. Wonderful. We'll cross that bridge when it comes...

The new year is off to a great start for us and we hope it is for you too!

Happy Birthday Jake!

2009-01-08T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today is Jake's birthday and I just have to show everyone what a true character I've married! Below is Jake in his "birthday suit" he wore to work today. God love him! We celebrated by going to a great dive bar known for serving up his favorite meal...cheese burgers! We were not disappointed.

Gotta run but just wanted to share!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-30T08:54:00.000-08:00

2008 proved to be a challenging and blessed year for us...but the goal is boring for 2009! I'm in the process of trying to figure out how/if I can change the blog to be just a family blog, will keep you posted on that issue.
Since the anniversary trip to WI, we've had some good times with friends and our families. We continued the tradition of NPT's PCP (that would be Nathan P. Thomas' Pumpkin Carving Party) with airbrushed shirts and everything. We also got to spend unexpected extra time with Jake's family over Thanksgiving with the passing of Grandpa Pete. We will miss him dearly and were thankful to be able to be there and spend time with everyone. Cooper was a hit with Grandma Ruth and the nieces and nephews...especially Miss Mylie, who after an uneasy start was his best bud. Christmas was spent with my side of the fam. The boys had a blast tearing up the presents and we all even got a special visit out at Gma and pa Younger's from the jolly man himself! The only thing missing was my sis and her fam who couldn't make it. Our first holiday season in the new house was great with only 20-30 tries for a good pic for the Christmas card!
We wish you all a wonderful New Year and will keep you updated on our latest happenings.

Gma Ruth

Mylie and Coop

Ma in her new kitchen!

Dontcha love him!

He's gettin' so big!

Man we could be related!

Merry Christmas!

1 Year Down!

2008-10-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

So we made it through the first fun filled year of marriage....who lost money on that bet? :) We took a much needed trip away from everything to beautiful Door County, WI. The fall colors hadn't quite all changed yet and the weather was nice and crisp! Here are several pics of the trip!

had to stop and see Lambeau Field!

this is the world's largest Culver's.

the infamous bruise

2008-10-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

So I mentioned before that I'd bruised the back of my leg on the metal slide playing the role of cool Aunt "Laan" with my nephew Bryce...when I said bruised, I meant BRUISED! A couple people have asked me about it so thought I'd post a couple shots of it in all it's Cumadin infused glory. The first on was taken the day after and the second one was about 10 days after. Pretty cool battle wound as I think I achieved my goal of continuing to be cool Aunt "Laan." I love that little boy...who's growing up waaaay too fast and is going to soon be way too cool to hang with me.

and no, it's not my butt... it's the back of my leg

seroiously the size of a softball!

Tony, Bryce and Laan at the Aquaplex

29:17 baby!!!

2008-10-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

This morning was my first race since the stroke and it was awesome! Liz has been training way more diligently then I have so I was pretty nervous. It went great tho! Posted my best time (29:17) and actually won my age category gettting a little plaque for being so awesome...Liz of course won her category too so we are both very proud of our accomplishment. Don't ask how many people were in the race :)

It's Homecoming weekend at Bradley so Jake is busy busy busy! Went to the vball game last night and are tailgating tonight at the soccer game...should be fun!

Before the race wondering what I'd been dragged into!

Wishing we were done!

We're done! Can't breathe!

First place for both of us!

Back in the real world...

2008-09-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

I've been working at United Way for 3 weeks now and loving it! The people are great and the job doesn't hardly feel like work since I get to be out and about meeting new people and getting area companies involved in the campaign this year.

Cooper is gaining weight by the minute and requires constant attention (see carpet pic below). He's training well and has been going on runs with me. I'm running the 5K race this Sat. for Bradley homecoming weekend.

My blood level was a little off this last week (3.5 and needs to be bw 2-3) so the doc has lowered my blood thinner dosage and it's back to weekly checks so we can keep it regulated. boo. I still bruise like a peach. Tony and Laura and the boys came for a visit this weekend and I got a baseball sized bruise on the slide when Bryce and I played tag at the playground. Note to self--I am too old for slides. Jake and I were so glad to see them and were sad that the time flew by so fast!

We're headed out of town for two weddings in Oct. and hope to get something planned for our 1 year anniversary Oct. 27. 1 year!!!!! and you all thought we wouldn't make it ;)

Meet Cooper!

2008-08-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

I went to pick up Cooper from the animal shelter today! He's pretty laid back today having just been neutered last night...which has made it easier to introduce him to Macey. They have touched noses just long enough to realize they aren't friends. I'm sure he'll tear up or pee on something of value before the weekend is over being 3 months old, but we're happy to have him! Isn't he cute!

Look at that face!

I made that bed for him!

Macey is not so sure about her new bro.

New nephew, new job, new puppy!

2008-08-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

Life continues to be exciting! Tony and Laura have a new baby, Grady, which Nikki and I were home when he was born. He's a cutie just like his brothers. I also got some great news...I'll be working as an Ambassador for the United Way from Sept-Nov. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to not only get involved with a fantastic organization, but also be able to network with all the companies that participate in their campaign. I'm looking forward to going back to work and meeting new people...although it will be an adjustment to my spoiled and relaxed schedule now! Can't use the stroke victim excuse anymore...which is really a blessing!

We are really excited about a new addition to our household that we adoped from the animal shelter! He's a 3 month old yellow lab named Cooper (in honor of our first house on Cooper St.). He's sure to turn our house upsided down and ruin a couple pairs of shoes but we can't wait to bring him home this Friday!

That's all for now...will keep you posted!

Nikki and I got to spend 2 weeks at home together! Yay!

The fruits of our labor from a trip to AK. One whole meal!

2 trips to the ER in 1 day...ugh!

2008-07-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Since things have been getting back to normal around here Macey decided to keep it exciting. After a lovely bout of puking and pooping we made a trip to the emergency vet clinic to find out that she has a urinary tract infection probably brought on by stress. The vet asked if we have any recent changes or stressful events...I laughed. She got a shot of steriods (dexamethasome just like I was on) and I have to shove pills down her throat for the next two weeks.
But...I couldn't let her steal all the attention...so last night I went to grab something off the floor and when I stood back up I smacked my head on the ledge of our fireplace pretty hard. It hurt and I felt a big goose egg swelling up so I grabbed an ice pack and called the after hours care line and explained what happened. Of course they told me I needed to go get checked out within the next 4 hours because of the blood thinners...so out the door we went at 11:30 at night. fun. Everything was fine, they even checked my INR and it was in the correct range still. Back at home by 2 a.m. only to go to sleep and be woken up at 5:30 for a tornado warning so down to the basement we headed for an hour. Poor Jake had to put in a long day at work and I got to sleep in...so did Macey. :)

The 4th of July and neurology news!

2008-07-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

With my completion of OT and PT I'm continuing my mission of getting back to normal, especially on the job front and with fitness and exercise. Jake and I were able to go visit his parents and family over the 4th. We had a great time seeing everyone and taking in the parade, carnival and fireworks in the booming metropolis of Rich Hill, MO! :) Jake has been super busy since his promotion and this week he's on the road to NY and Boston and has more trips planned...guess he's gotten over his worries about me not being able to stay home alone! I'm back on the job hunt and have had a couple bites lately...will keep you posted when something comes through.

Now with the great news...watch out Peoria drivers I'm cleared to drive around town! I had a neurology appointment yesterday and got the ok to drive short distances...I've regained my independence!!! The plan is still to check out my brain around the year mark and see how the clot looks and if there are any other issues with veins up there...and if all is good then I'll go off the meds. The only catch is if I choose to go off the seizure med then I will have to stop driving again for a while as a precaution. Since there aren't any side effects many people choose to stay on it and avoid risk of another seizure...we'll see, it's my choice.

So life continues to be full of blessings for us! I've even had mom up to the new house to help me with some finishing touches and deep cleaning...no one better to help get some house projects done then her!

Planning a trip home soon for the arrival of a new niece or nephew from Tony and Laura...and Nikki and the Jack Attack will be in for a visit too! Can't wait!

Here's a pic of us and some of our friends from St. Louis that we got to hang out with on our way through back to Peoria.

Another kind of OT

2008-06-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a great vacation to Alaska where we visited Nikki, Brian and Jack Jack. Mom and Dad were up there to so we all got to enjoy the awesome Alaskan scenery, some camping and fishing and a little bit of hiking. I definitely stayed on top of the OT workouts with the fishing, reeling in a 40 lb halibut and a 30 lb king salmon...what a workout! I also surprised myself and I think my sister by going on a mountain hike...definitely felt the burn in my calves and quads! Below are some pics of the trip!

Also, I'm in my last week of PT and actually graduated from OT today. My hand grip is finally stronger in my right hand again and all my strength test scores reached my goal levels! I also got released from my rehabilitation doctor today...so one by one I'm checking them off the list!

Movin' On!

2008-06-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

Life just doesn't slow down for a second! We moved in to the new house this past weekend and had a slew of helpers to make it as easy as possible. It feels great to be in a place of our very own...stacks of boxes and all! See the pic below of the moving crew (minus my bro Tony and Andy, a great helper) celebrating at the Burger Barge.
As for me, the moving definitely made PT on Monday morning pretty tough. It looks like I'll "graduate" from both PT and OT at the end of June. I'm excited to be finished but also know it will be all up to me to continue with my exercises. Also still trying to regulate my blood thinner dosage. Since returning from Mayo and dipping back down to 1.3, I've slowly been moving up and got to 1.9 then went to 3.3 (totally skipping over the ideal range of 2-3)...so we'll figure it out eventually. Been battling some continued fatigue, very frustrating and I'm sure the packing, moving and unpacking of boxes isn't helping!
Anyway, we continue to focus on the many blessings in our lives. We're getting ready to head to Alaska to visit Nikki and Brian and Jumpin' Jack Flash and hopefully reel in some big salmon and halibut...and Jake just got a great promotion at work where he's in a supervisory position over the development team and in a lead role in the campaign at Bradley Univ. It's an awesome opportunity for him!
Until next time...

Two Months Out!

2008-05-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share with you what I hope is my last 15 minute of fame due to this whole ordeal! May is stroke awareness month so my story was in the Peoria Joural Star and also a local TV station ran the story they came and interviewed me for at the house a couple weeks back.
Other then that I'm very excited to say that I will be taking my last dose of steroids at the end of the week! Bad thing is that going off of them will mess with my blood thickness levels which we're still trying to regulate. After being excited about finally being in the correct range on Fri., I found out at my blood draw today, I'm on the low end again. Boo.
Here is the link for the TV story http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=136263 where you can view the clip.
Below is the story from the paper...here's a link to the story where you can view it big enough to read. You have to scroll down on the left to page 12 and click the title of the article. http://adserver1.harvestadsdepot.com/peoriajstar/ss/079499/

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Made it home last night from Mayo with a lot of great feedback and confident remarks from the docs we met with. After reviewing the original films from Methodist, the Neurologists were still confident in what they'd told me regarding the reasons for the stroke, being able to get off all meds in a year, and the seizures being solely induced by the stroke. I was also shown the films for the first time and shown exactly where and how everything happened...wow. The true miracles of what your body can handle, with the grace of God, is really humbling.

We also met with a nurse specialist on Thrombophilia (clotting) and got all our questions and more answered about being on blood thinners and how they should and should not affect daily life. It was great to hear that life really won't need to be lived in a bubble...rather, my new motto should be consistency and moderation mixed with some common sense. That's in everything from eating to exercise.

The final piece to the puzzle was meeting with the Hemotologist. He was extremely straight forward and wanted to make sure I understood every aspect of the genetic mutation (Factor V) I have. The main thing he stressed was how important it is to keep my blood thickness ratio (INR) levels bw 2-3. It hasn't been there since I left the hospital and he bumped my blood thinner dosage up and insisted I get the level checked in 2 days...I'm very pleased to report that my level this afternoon was 2.1! Everyone we've consulted with says how hard it is to regulate because virtually everything can affect it's abilities...hydration, activity level, diet, medicines, weight gains and losses..etc.

All in all we're thrilled with the second opinion! Here are a couple more pics from the trip and one of my brain! I'm no doc, but the white shows blood flow and you can see where it stops when it gets to the top which is where the clot prevented blood flow to a huge part of the front of my brain.

The back of my head is on the right, you can see how the flow stops a little then comes back then completely stops...ta-da a stroke.

More of the Mayo campus...there are beautiful gardens and flowers all over.

Not sure if you can read it...but Mayo Clinic is etched above this doorway.

Reporting Live From Mayo

2008-05-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

We made it to the great state of MN and had my initial consultation with Neurology this morning at the lovely hour of 7 am. It took a mere 3 hours to go over everything...then it was off to get some blood drawn of course! We're already feeling great about what will come from this trip. Since they've dealt with cases like mine, they speak with a lot of confidence about the factors causing the kind of stroke I had as well as treatments. They were also very supportive of what they called "the perfect treatment" I received in Peoria.

Here's the basics of what they said.(Keep in mind this is prior to their review tomorrow of my actual films from the CT scans and MRIs from my hospital stay. Then we'll meet with them again Wed. to see where we stand and if they want to run more similar tests.) As far as the bloood thinner and seizure medication being life time treatments...they don't think that's the case at all. A year is more of the timeline they're thinking! Yay! At that point, I'll need to have more testing on all of the blood clotting factors...can't have them while I'm on the meds. Also, epilepsy is not a diagnosis they are convinced of because the type of stroke I had commonly occurs with seizures. Double Yay! They are also very encouraging of my weening off the steroids, which I've already begun...thanks goodness because I'm running out of stretchy pants that are ok to wear in public! In the meantime, considering this is a blood issue, I'll be meeting with a Hemotologist as well.

One other thing I asked about was the extra fatigue I've had in the past week and what to attribute that to. They said it is not related to my blood thickness or change in that level, rather it was probably due to me getting back into the swing of higher level exercise and more regular daily activities (and mom and I getting so much of the house packed up!). Basically they said I need to remember that I'm less than 2 months out of a major head trauma that severely affected my body so I need to remember the word recovery should still be in my vocabulary as frustrating as that might be for me! I'll take that as a compliment!

We'll keep you posted!

This just doesn't do it justice! It's huge!

This is me at the bottom of the Mayo builing above.

Jake has decided a medical career wouldn't be so bad...too bad the employee entrance was an exit only for him!

900+ pages!

2008-05-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

Lea Ann here! Look at me...finally posting to the blog all by myself! Typing and everything...although a little slow with the right hand still. I had my re-evaluation for PT and OT this week and my recovery continues to be amazing. I did the same tests I did when I first started and the results were definitely different! For example, in looking at the fine motor skills in my right hand, there is a peg board with 16 small pegs that you pick up and put in the holes then remove one by one. My time was a very frustrating minute and a half and this time it took me a mere 23 seconds!!! For PT one test to judge endurance and recovery time is doing step ups onto a box at a set pace for 3 minutes then check your heart rate after a minute of rest. Initial eval showed my heart rate at 111 beats per minute after the rest and this time it was at 86. So all the tests basically show that my strength, endurance, balance, coordination and so on are progressing at the best rate I could ask for! YAY!

This week I have been fighting some extra fatigue for some reason. My INR (blood thickness) count was low again and continues to frustrate the docs on determining a therapeutic dosage of the blood thinner. I've been told the fatigue could be associated partially with my blood being a little thick, but also with other factors like weening off the steroids, maybe having some kind of bug, an overly worrisome mom and husband...oh, wait I may have made that reason up! :) Anyway, I'll keep you all posted next week during our trip to Mayo. Jake and I head up there Sunday. Hopefully we'll come back with more answers! And the 900+ pages title...that's how long my medical records are from my hospital stay! Had to go pick them up to take with us to Mayo...I skimmed them and hope the docs at Mayo get more out of them then I can! The terminology lost me after "Heuser is a 26 year old female..."

Also, had a couple more interviews for local stories...here are some pics from when they came to the house. It will air on the 19th and we'll link it to the blog.

Off and Running...

2008-04-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

This week, Lea Ann and Jake celebrated their 6 month wedding anniversary. They dug into the top layer of their wedding cake and it tasted suprisingly good! They also attended a black tie event for Bradley University's Campaign Kick Off...those bridesmaid's dresses from their weding came in pretty handy for Lea Ann! She even tried her luck in heels for the first time!

Over the weekend, Kem came up to visit. We all headed up to the tennis courts where Lea Ann continued to work on her game. She even took a ten minute jog around the courts to work on building endurance. She continues to fight fatigue after a day of activities but keeps busy throughout the day focusing on using her right hand in daily tasks.

Another local TV station is planning a story on her stroke and recovery and will interview her both at her house and in therapy next week. The local paper is interviewing her tomorrow for an article as well. We'll make sure to post both stories when they're available!

Progress

2008-04-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Since Lea Ann's life revolves around PT and OT, thought we'd share some pics of her in action. She's focusing on strengthening her quads, core, and just building her endurance. As you can see she's doing alot of work with resistances bands, balance, and actually jumping! The pics don't do her justice. She's so close to dunking again, it's not funny! She finally started OT this week, focusing on building shoulder strength and working her fingers individually. Coordination and strength in her right hand will be the last things to regain full function. Although she continues to do as many of her daily tasks as possible with her right hand, the fingers still work in unison and have some curl to them. Her therapy has moved to an actual gym for curcuit training and she is continually encouraged to be active as much as possible without overtiring herself. She has some added inspiration this week, as Nikki and Jack are in town for a visit. They all are soaking up the beautiful Peoria weather and have even made it to the tennis courts to hit some balls around. Enjoy the pics!

1 Month Anniversary

2008-04-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's already been a month! Lea Ann is headed to the Mayo-Clinic in Rochester, MN May12, hoping to determine if any other factors caused her stroke besides the genetic mutation of the factor V,to see if the coumadin will be a lifetime treatment, and what their take is on the epilepsy issue--does she have it or are they convinced the seizures were truly just induced by the stroke. She's been trying to get back to normal life-- walking Jake to work, grocery shopping, paying bills, and some other light domestic duties.
Lea Ann says, "I do have to give Mom mad props for keeping my house clean and fresh socks to put on every morning... She's a God send. Jake is getting back into the swing of thing at work and learning some minimal kitchen skills from the both of us. By the time Mom goes home, Jake is gonna be well trained. Jake and I even had a date night and attented our first Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball game. They lost, but we didn't take it personally. I think the 'person' most happy to see me home is Macey (the cat). Physical Therapy is proving to be an extreme challenge, although a welcome one. Working on strengthing my core, ankle, and hips, as well as continually working on balance. As far as my right hand... it's coming along slowly, but surely. The grip is good but the coordination is lacking. Translation: I write like a second grader. I start Occupational Therapy Friday to focus on that."
Please keep posting your comments on the blog for Lea Ann. She appreciates it so much.

Her Story on Channel 25 News

2008-04-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the story and video clip that Channel 25 did on Lea Ann today. They decided not to wait for Stroke Awareness in May and did a human interest/health awareness story right away.
http://www.week.com/news/health/17550014.html

2008-04-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Talked with Debbie last night. Sounds like Lea Ann's getting back in the swing of normal life! She had to make a grilled cheese sandwich as part of her occupational therapy yesterday. Can you believe that Jake wouldn't even eat it? He has to be getting tired of cheeseburgers by now, surely! Lea goes in for her first TV interview today (Friday). Sounds like there may be more than one local channel interested in her story! She'll start outpatient physical therapy today as well and then Debbie says next week they'll start their "routine" with PT, OT, and Lea's home exercises. She said they have to make themselves get into a routine in order to avoid being lazy. So, Lea Ann, watch out! :O)

The Dream Team is Going Home!

2008-04-09T23:23:00.001-07:00

Lea Ann has been cleared to go home even earlier than anticipated. Her therapist have run out of drills for her. She is checking out tomorrow morning, Thursday, Arpil 10th. Here are some pics of Lea, Jake, and Debbie--The Dream Team! Lea Ann has been progressing so well, she will be getting some more company in the coming weeks--in-laws, siblings, and all 3 of her Friga nephews. You know she is getting along pretty well if she can handle Bryce, Ryan, and The Jack Attack, all at once! Thank You, Jake and Mom, for taking such good care of her through this ordeal. Such trying times can be as difficult on the family as on the patient. Congratulations Lea--you are truly an inspiration to us all. WE LOVE YOU!

From the weekend...

2008-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lea Ann had some visitors this weekend...Trish, Caitlin, Dawn and Macey...Brian and Amy Carroll (Jake's friend and his wife) came up too. We have found out that Lea is also being diagnosed with epilepsy. They can't be certain she actually has it, it is more likely she had seizures induced by the stroke. However, the only way to be certain is to take her off the seizure medicine and wait and see if she has another seizure (which she could actually have epilepsy and not have another seizure for several years). This means that along with the blood thinner Cumodin, she will be on the seizure medicine Keppra for the rest of her life (they believe). We are being told that we should seek a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic, however, because Lea Ann is such a rare case. As her doctor said, "when you hear hooves stomping outside you should believe it is horses not zebras." In Lea Ann's case though he said she is a zebra. Therefore we will be working on taking her to the Mayo Clinic to decide if she should be on the blood thinner or not.

PT -Lea Ann did defensive slides (aka the duck walk), learned how to jump again on one or two feet, did wall squats and finally pulled her therapist around using resistance bands. Today was a WORKOUT!!! She actually had to stop a little early because she got a little light headed.

Though Lea Ann will be going home on Friday (Woo-Hoo!), we will not be posting her home address/phone number to the blog, for safety reasons. Since this is an open blog and anyone can view it, we thought it best to keep that information off the website--gotta watch out for the weirdos out there! If you really want to send her something after Friday, contact a family member for the address and that person can make a judgement call. And of course, you can continue to keep in contact with her via the blog though, since we will be updating it until she is fully recovered.

Trisha, Lea Ann, Dawn, and Caitlin (Macey on the pillow)

She's Gonna Be Famous Too!

2008-04-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Lea was asked if she would appear on a TV special for Stroke Awareness Month (May) to talk about her experience--how she was perfectly healthy and was even embarrassed to go to the hospital the night of her stroke and seizures, but because of early detection and her healthy lifestyle, she is making an amazing recovery.

More pics from Jake!

2008-04-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

I'm a personal fan of the "ol' lady with the cane" look! Jake said she played kickball this weekend, walked ON HER OWN, and wiggled her toes! Thought we'd share more pictures of her "remarkable" progress!

Lea Ann and Liz
Casey, the therapist, with Lea Ann

Lea Ann dribbling in therapy. She better hope Coach Jackson doesn't see her looking down at the ball! Eyes up, girl!

She's Goin' Home!

2008-04-04T12:23:00.000-07:00
They are releasing her next Friday, April 11th! That means our Over-Achiever will only have been in the hospital 22 days! Must be a record! She graduated to an "ol' lady cane" she said, and only has to use it for stability when she gets fatigued. They have taken her on some outings and to her house to help her ease back into her world and point out potential problems. They have also reduced her seizure and headache meds. She's in good spirits and anxious to go home. She's so thankful for everyone's prayers and encouraging words and hopes to thank everyone in person soon.

This weekend through this morning...

2008-04-02T05:46:00.000-07:00
Debbie called for a quick update Monday evening. Lea Ann took 55 STEPS with her hemi-walker this day, which is a BIG accomplishment! She continues with the headaches, so they started her on a steroid every 6 hours to try to get the inflammation down a bit to help ease her pain. Headaches have kinda been interfering with her PT since she can't give 100% when she's hurting. She's taking a pain pill every morning now just to avoid the headaches so she can concentrate more. Her mom says she's tired, but working really hard. They've been weaning her off her seizure meds and today was the final day. The best thing I heard was that Lea Ann has been throwing her right arm above her head today. She was doing it while I was talking with Debbie on the phone...trying to show off, I think! :o) Tony and Kem went to visit Lea Ann this weekend and had a great time. Lea Ann even sat down for a game of Sequence with them. But one game was enough for her. As she mentioned, her attention span isn't up to par just yet. I can only imagine how drained she is after a full day of her routine too. Tony was truly amazed at how far she's come since we seen her in ICU. He said she doesn't remember much in the beginning. She doesn't remember being in ICU. She remembers coming to the hospital and remembers why she came in and she recalls tensing up before her first big seizure- and the rest was a blur. But they had her on medications and she was pretty well asleep most of the in-between time, so it's no surprise. He said this weekend she was able to finally move herself into her bed from the wheelchair with no assistance and was even able to lift her right leg into the bed! She normally had to slide her left foot under her right leg to help lift it into bed, but she moved it all by itself this time. He said she struggled the first time, but by the time she did it again, she had less difficulty. The third time was like second nature. It really helps the family to be able to see her progress first hand. Talked with Debbie today, Wednesday April 2nd and Lea Ann was up waiting for the next round of therapy. Said she took 85 steps Tuesday and they have now officially graduated her to a cane walker. What strides! Debbie said their goal today is to teach Lea Ann how to get up if she ever happens to fall. So, of course, the ol' "I've fallen and can't get up" quote came up in the conversation... Debbie said Lea Ann had a really good day yesterday and is "up, rarin' to go" this morning. Jake sent some pictures to show everyone her accomplishments so far. Lea Ann continues to check her blog, so keep the comments rolling!

Note from Lea Ann

2008-03-30T21:25:00.000-07:00
Note from Lea Ann, as dictated to Debbie and posted by Nikki:
I finally got a chance and the energy to check the blog. I can't say how much I appreciate the thoughts and prayers from friends, new and old. I keep saying it just takes a stroke to realize how loved you are. I'm getting stronger everyday and the cards and flowers mean so much. My attitude stays positive as I see small improvements everyday. I even walked 30 steps with a hemi-walker the other day. I couldn't ask to be in a better hospital with better therapists. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers because I can truly say they have helped me get as far as I have. Gotta go--I'm getting tired. It takes all the energy I have to focus for a little while as my attention span has been affected. Love Lea Ann

Weekend Update

2008-03-30T17:25:00.000-07:00
She's still improving daily! She's taking more steps and getting more use of her right side each day. She's been having pretty bad headaches at night though, which prevent her from getting good rest. Jake says the doctors are telling them it's from the pressure & swelling, which is common with any head injury. Just in case, they did another CAT scan, which confirmed this. They are also changing up her meds, which can also cause the headaches. Jake asks that eveyone continue to pray, since it's difficult for her to give 100% at physical therapy when the headaches aren't allowing her much rest. Despite this, her spirits are up and she's as determined as ever.

Lea's Visitor

2008-03-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Along with many friends and relatives, Lea Ann was allowed a visit by her cat, Macy. Jake has been sending pictures to post to the blog, so we'll keep them coming as he sends them.
Full after a yummy hospital meal!With her physical therapist, Kimberly, who is with the Army National Reserve. She's "one tough cookie", Lea Ann says.

Posing with a bouquet of flowers sent by her First Grade Teacher, Mrs. (Kraft) Hull.

Thursday the 27th Update

2008-03-28T14:21:00.000-07:00
Debbie called with our "progress report" today. Things are looking really good from the sounds of it. Lea Ann took her first actual shower this morning (sitting in the shower, but actually in it!) Said she, "Felt like a person again." Her therapies include two rounds of Physical Therapy daily and two sessions with Occupational therapy and one with speech therapy. They get breaks for lunch and somewhere in there, Jake and Debbie work her out twice a day. Whew! Makes me tired just listening to her! On Wednesday and Thursday Lea Ann had been having some numbness in her mouth and left hand that caused some concern for the therapists, so they ordered a CAT scan for precautions, which showed everything was fine. They told her that the numbness was good since everything's "waking up." She showed some progress with her right arm today in that she was able to shrug her right shoulder. And I guess the physical therapist almost fell over when Lea Ann impressed her so much by getting up on her hands and knees by herself! She's now able to get to the bathroom with assistance for balance. Jake really made her day and brought Macey, her cat, in to see her. Debbie said Lea was covered in cat hair when Jake left with Macey and Lea Ann just wanted to fall asleep. But momma wouldn't let her sack out until the bed linens and her clothes were clean again. :o)
Debbie said Lea Ann has good spirits most of the time, but has broke down on occasion. Like the psychologist said, "We'd be more worried if she didn't break down every now and then." She's laughing at herself from time to time. Debbie said she handed Lea Ann a comb and Lea Ann started combing her nose and got tickled. Like Debbie said, "You gotta laugh!" Lea Ann is even figuring out things that no one else would think about. For instance, Rice Krispies stick together on the spoon better than Cheerios, so she can maneuver the spoon to her mouth easier with a clump on it. I got tickled at that one.

The doctors were suppose to meet with the therapists today to re-evaluate Lea Ann's progress and maybe have a better time frame of her length of stay at Methodist. They want to keep her as long as possible for maximum one-on-one benefits and to get the most out of her therapy in the early recovery stages.

Rumor has it that Lea Ann got a chance to look at her blog yesterday, so make sure you're commenting to her! She's getting everything on here, so take a moment and jot her a line or two! Every ounce of encouragement means so much to her!

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Tuesday March 25th and Wednesday the 26th

2008-03-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

Talked wtih Debbie and I guess between the Physical therapy and the Occupational therapy, there was just no time left in the first day of rehab. They had Lea Ann up from 1130am until that evening around 4pm. We did find out after she entered PT that the stroke affected the left side as well. Once again, complete recovery is likely. She still has not moved her right hand, but continues to have sensation in it, which is a good sign. She did, however, help lift the right leg during her exercises! The physical therapists are asking that the family refrain from assisting Lea Ann in her activities as much as possible. Debbie said that has been the hardest thing for her (as a mother) to do yet. But this will help Lea Ann gain her strength faster instead of relying on others from the beginning. She was able to hold a glass to drink and fed herself with some difficulty since the coordination of the left side is still a bit lacking. Debbie and Jake were instructed on certain exercises from the physical therapist that they'll have to do with Lea Ann twice a day in addition to her scheduled PT and OT. So continue to pray for strength for the caregivers as well!

Debbie emailed on Wednesday evening and said Jake had returned to work for the first time today (Bradley University is just a few minutes from the hospital.) Lea Ann was so busy with her therapy. Said it started at 7am this time and "not a free moment" all day. Some of the things Lea Ann tackled today were sitting up, assisting herself to her wheelchair, taking a couple steps with help, and rolling over in bed well now. Just like Debbie says, "So many things we take for granted..." She also gave herself a bath today. Debbie says her mood is really good, but she is totally exhausted. She's such a fighter! They plan to get her up at 7am on Thursday for her first shower. I bet Lea Ann can't wait for that!

Lea Ann needs all the encouragement she can get and we continue to encourage cards be sent to her at the above address. Keep those prayers coming as well!

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step." ~Martin Luther King, Jr. <

Up to this point...

2008-03-25T08:13:00.001-07:00
Lea Ann awoke in the night on Wednesday March 19th with complaints of a severe headache, chest pain, and said her right arm was numb, "almost like it was asleep." Jake took her to the ER and she was admitted with what they first thought was a migraine. She developed slurred speech somewhere in this timeframe. However, as time passed, Lea Ann had some seizure episodes that made them think otherwise. An MRI was done indicating that there was a blood clot on the brain between the right and left lobes near the top of her head. In other words, she had had a stroke. The clot appeared to affect the left side of the brain, which, in turn, affected the right side of her body. She was unresponsive from the time of her first seizure through most of the day on Friday and then on Friday evening, her parents, Kem & Debbie, were talking to her trying to encourage her and Lea Ann tried to lean forward and mumbled the words, "I'm trying." Her first words since the stroke. This was a good sign that her speech was not affected. As the next day progressed, she became more alert, but was still very tired, so she would awaken for a few moments and talk short sentences or reply to those who spoke with her and then close her eyes again. She was able to recognize everyone in the room when she heard their voices. Lea Ann was ready to eat almost immediately when she began speaking since it had been over 2 days since she had had her last meal. The speech therapist came in and assessed her swallowing and decided that she wasn't awake enough to eat yet, so Lea Ann was restricted to ice chips and sips of water until they reassessed her Sunday morning and determined she was swallowing good. By Monday, she was back to a regular diet! "Whoo Hoo!" (as Lea Ann would say!) Monday morning she was awake and alert, talking with her mom, dad, and Jake in complete sentences. She even spoke with some family by phone, but this tired her somewhat. The last I know, she was ordering a cheeseburger! Still not 100% certain what caused this to all happen. Not typical for a 26 year old to have a stroke as we all know. Kem called this morning and found that Lea Ann was able to help lift her right leg during physical therapy this morning! Still not gripping with her right hand yet. Left side is strong and should recover rapidly. The neurologists sounded very optimistic yesterday and even told the family that they can anticipate (over time) a complete recovery! The latest update is that she will be moving from the Neuro unit to the Rehabilitation Unit to begin intense physical and occupational therapy today (Tuesday). They anticipate her to be there for about 4 weeks. Many thanks to all of you who have kept Lea Ann and her family in your prayers. THIS IS PROOF OF THE POWER OF PRAYER! Please continue to keep them in your thoughts during the long haul. This is just the beginning of a brighter tomorrow for everyone!

"One should take children's philosophy to heart. They never despise a bubble because it burst; they immediately set to work to blow another one~"