There is always a reason to smile!

This past weekend I attended a street festival with my son called The Smile Project and I couldn't help but think there's always a reason to smile. Even in the midst of everything that seems to be happening around us, God is still in control!


And God is definitely still in control over Pat's recovery and she's getting better each day - another reason to smile =). I've uploaded a video of one of Pat's therapy sessions where she is walking. She still needs assistance, but she has come a long way.

A few things:

First, thank you to Sharon Sagoo, Ogonna Opurum, and DeAndre Vidale for your generations towards Pat's care.We appreciate your donation so much and it definitely helps with her expenses for a Personal Assistant! If you see this before I get to speak with you, please send me your mailing addresses (marienichole.51@gmail.com).

If anyone else would like to donate towards the care of Pat, please visit www.ps-ily.org/donate.


Second, please please please come by and visit with Pat. It encourages her and lifts her spirit when she sees friends. She does have therapy 3 times a week, so if you would like to come see her you may either call her or email me so we can let you know which times she has therapy.


Lastly, we are still seeking help for Pat during the days her therapist does not come to the house (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays). We mainly need assistance with transporting her to and from her therapy sessions as well as someone to assist mommy with going up and down the stairs and running errands. Please email me at marienichole.51@gmail.com if you can lend any assistance.


Thank you all again and I hope to have another update for you soon!!!

Hi Everyone!!_Update

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to give a quick update on Pat's progress so far.

First, I apologize if you've called/emailed me and I haven't gotten back to you. With both little ones and helping my sister, it's difficult for me to get time to contact everyone back. I'm much better with texting so you most certainly may text me (you can email me if you don't already have the information).

So on to Pat... she's recovering very well. While she still has a long road ahead, given the severity of her incident, I'm amazed at how God is restoring her. She's come such a long way in such a short amount of time.

Currently, she is receiving the following therapies:

• physical - to help restore function of left arm and leg; work on ability to walk independently; improve balance
• occupational - assistance with relearning day-to-day activities
• speech - strengthen long-term memory, attention span

She's doing well in all three. She has OT and ST twice a week, a PT three times a week. Her range of motion on the left side has improved significantly and she is able to walk with the assistance of a walker and someone guarding her closely.

She has followed-up with all of her doctors and they all comment on how well she looks.

Pat still has the same spirit about her - which is what makes her, her! We spend a lot of time just talking and laughing at each other.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has donated to P.S. I Looove You! So far, we have one month of PT care covered for Pat. If anyone has any questions about the organization, you can email me.

I would also like to thank the Maryland Pharmaceutical Society for honoring Pat last weekend. She really wishes she could have made it (I will be posting a video for you guys soon).

Thank you to everyone again!!

Love,

Nikki

Caring for Pat

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure how many people still read this blog, but I do again want to thank everyone for their support, love, and prayers. Pat is now at home getting readjusted to daily living and we continue to pray that she make a full recovery.

For the most part, she is doing extremely well. She's getting stronger each day and even sounds like the "Old Pat", joking around with family and conning us (mainly me) into giving her sweets lol. It's so great to see her getting back into the swing of things.

However, she still needs help with physical activities. Her left side is experiencing tone - basically, her brain is telling her muscles to contract at the same time, which makes it difficult for her to do anything on that side, so she still needs help with personal grooming, dressing, transferring from one position to another, etc.

The family is asking for help with her care, especially after Dorian goes back to school. Right now, it is difficult for my mother to care for Pat everyday on her own, because she is still recovering from a stroke she had 3 years ago. And of course, with 2 small ones, I am limited to what I can physically assist with.

If anyone is able to take a shift (see below) or even come sit with  my children so that I can help Pat and our mom, please email me (marienichole.51@gmail.com) or call/text me (it's easier for me to text) at 301.928.2581. I am attempting to schedule help for her at least through the first of October.

Also, the family is also looking into Personal Care Assistant services for Pat, which unfortunately is not covered by insurance. I know times are tight for everyone, but if you are able to donate anything to Pat so that she may receive this service, please follow this link http://ps-ily.org/donate/. ALL donations will be used towards her medical care.

Shifts Monday-Friday
9-12pm
12-3pm
3-6 pm
6-9 pm

Shifts Saturday-Sunday
8-11 am
12-3 pm

Again, you can contact me at marienichole.51@gmail.com or 301.928.2581.


Thank you so much again!!!

Love,

Pat, Mommy, Dorian, and Nikki

Confident Peace

Hi everyone,

This has been a pretty challenging week with Pat coming home, both physically and emotionally. As we are all trying to get readjusted to our new lives and roles & responsibilities, there were moments of frustration, hurt, and exhaustion.

I'll be transparent here and say it was EXTREMELY difficult for me. I've personally had to assume new roles with my sister, mom, and Dorian and I felt myself breaking down. I was becoming more easily frustrated with my children and even my husband. The pressure I felt with Pat's new situation was affecting the way I handled my own situations this week. I was quickly becoming overwhelmed with trying to be a good wife and mother, as well as daughter, sister, and aunt.

One thing I remember my parents always saying is to pray when things seem uncertain. And that's exactly what I did last night. I immediately began to become comforted by God's spirit and I as I confessed to Him that I could not handle this on my own, I felt all the pressures of the week being lifted off of my shoulders.

This morning when I woke up, I felt refreshed and I did my devotions, appropriately titled Confident Peace. The devotion focused on living a peace-filled life and provided the example of the apostle Paul. When things in his life seemed to be too great to handle he recalled "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". The light bulb clicked... I CAN do all things through Christ including being the wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt that He's called me to be. All I have to do is completely depend on Him. He will give me the power, strength, and love to sustain me in my new roles.

I have such a renewed spirit regarding my sister. WHATEVER happens with her recovery, I am CONFIDENT that God's will, will be done and that He will carry each and every one of us through this process.

So this week, I encourage you to completely depend on God for a situation or situations in your life that may overwhelm or discourage you. Know that HE does not put anything on us that we cannot bear BUT we must have total faith and dependency on Him.

Thank you all again for your thoughts, prayers, and love!

 

PAT IS COMING HOME!!!

Hi everyone!

Pat will be coming home today!!!

She has made wonderful strides towards a full recovery while in rehab. However, she still needs some assistance with physical tasks e.g. showering, dressing, transferring (getting in and out of bed, standing, walking).

If anyone is able to assist with her needs during the day or overnight, please email me at Marienichole.51@gmail.com or call 301-928-2581.

Thank you a

Pat's Road to Recovery

 

Happy Sunday everyone!

We met with the social worker and therapists last week to discuss Pat's progress so far in rehab. Overall she is doing well and is getting stronger each day.

Right now she has physical, occupational, and speech therapies each day. While she doesn't need assistance with tasks such as feeding herself, she still needs anywhere from 25% - 50% assistance with things like sitting up, standing, walking, using the bathroom, dressing, etc.

Her speech was never really affected by the aneurysm, so she speaks well. And she remembers most things, although her short-term memory kind of goes in-and-out.

She has been vomiting each day, and the doctors are currently trying to see what the cause of it is. Right now they don't think it's serious and they're keeping a close eye on the situation.

Even with everything going on, she's still the same Pat =) We often joke and laugh during our visits and it's good to see she is in such good spirits.

AND Pat says she is ready to start receiving visitors now and gave me the "okay" for everyone to come see her... her information is below. She does have therapy each day, BUT family/friends are welcome to come sit in on sessions.

Adventist Rehabilitation
7600 Carroll Avenue #5200
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(once you go into the main entrance, you can take the elevators to the 5th floor)

Direct Phone #: 301-891-5578

Cats Need a Home

Good morning everyone,

As some of you all know, Pat has 3 cats - all of whom Mommy has been caring for while she's been recovering. However, it has become increasingly difficult for her to care for them.

At the request of Pat, we would like to find a loving home for 2 of the cats - Tiger and Pumpkin. Tiger is a loving male cat, who loves attention and human contact. He is very much a lap cat. He's not super fond of children, so he would be best placed in a home of an older couple, or single person. Pumpkin is an independent female cat, who pretty much keeps to herself. She's doesn't need to be held nor does she require much attention aside from feedings.

If you know anyone who may be interested, please email me at marienichole.51@gmail.com and I will send pictures.

Thanks and hopefully I'll have videos of Pat to post today =)