Friday, August 12, 2022 6:36 PM

Staring into the eye of the storm has warped the time that has lapsed. Larry's stroke on July 1st was preceded by 3 days of escalating headache pain. It was unusual for him to have a headache. So please see a doctor if the same happens to you. Who knows what damage was being done from Tuesday to Friday!

  Today was much like yesterday. When Shane & I arrived before noon, Larry had another hour & a bit left on dialysis. It tires him out and his blood pressure drops. So when he's finished with it, he will not be moved to a chair until his BP rises to healthy numbers, which it only started to do as I was leaving at 5:00. There were more periods of eyes opened and focusing on me. I showed him again the photos of 'our life' from the tablet. It held his attention. I remembered another song he used to sing a lot and when I played it, he was very alert.

  The neurologist came to see Larry from the 8th floor neurology unit, where he will be going when a bed is available. She asked mostly about his couple of days at Ridge Meadows before he came to ICU here. She asked if he was standing, or eating. Oh dear! Not sure what information she gets, but obviously she was really starting out blind. She said that the stroke isn't what's holding him up, it's all the metabolic stuff. Once the lungs & kidneys function well, he'll be able to cooperate with the therapies that are waiting for him for rehab. She had some concern that the stroke may have affected his ability to swallow properly. After the 'eating & standing' question, I'm not thinking about it for now.

 I had a 'moment' today as I (almost) laid my head on Larry's shoulder, humming to him. With my arm around him, I began to sob. His nurse today had her eyes on us and came into the room as I had walked over to the window, looking away. Her words were so beautiful. She said that miracles happen again & again, and in the meantime, because of the example of Larry's and my perseverance through suffering, it is helping others to try harder to be better people. I believe that. Actually, I know that, as many people have already expressed a positive change in their attitude/actions, while following what we are going through. I know that much of my strength & hope come from having witnessed & journeyed with others who have travelled, as some are travelling today, an unbelievably painful & challenging road.

  God bless you in your own journey of pain, whatever it may be! We pray for each person who is journeying with us in each their own way. Thank you! xoxo