My Father's Stroke and Second Chance

Thursday, my Father had a stroke, with the slurred speech and drooping mouth on one side.  The next day he was walking, joking, and imitating the fast walk of hospital staff person. His speech has been a little slurred, and he has been searching for words, but we are overall... amazed. I arrived3 days later to join the warm family circle around my warm, glowing Father/Papi.  The Sunday night after the Thursday stroke, I hugged Papi's neck and held him for a long time.  The next day we visited from 1pm to 10 at night, and this day amazed us even more.  In the morning, he walked up 15 steps, then back down.  He spoke rather articulately, recognizing Gen. Forrest in a military painting of the Civil War that I gave him.  He took it, studied it, and spoke the name "Forrest."  Then, "I know him."  He interacted with the Phys Therapist, charming her and many of the other staff.                                                                                                                                A dark moment overshadowed the day to be swept away by spring winds. While Papi napped, a Doctor of Osteopathy came into the room and asked if we wanted to resuscitate our Father if his heart stopped.  Mami understood that the question was about extreme measures.  I interjected that we did want to use emergency response in case of Papi's heart stopping.  I agreed with Mami that he didn't want artificial life support, but the D.O. wanted to know if she should mark DNR, Do Not Resuscitate.  We clarified that we did Not Want to mark his bed Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)  What a relief.

Getting in bed, became easier and he has grown stronger thorough out the day.  The Doctor came in at mid day, and announced  he could leave when his blood thinner to a 2.0 with the Coumadin  bloodthinner.  Papi surprised us all, when he agreed eagerly with the doctor about entering rehabilitation.  We were very relieved and grateful.  Orlando is able to accompany him and advocate for Papi and will be available for several weeks.
Juani just called and advised me that Papi has been evaluated as not needing  Occupational Therapy, nor Physical Therapy, and Medicaid will not pay for Speech Therapy alone.  He is most likely not a candidate for Rehab.  OK then...what's next...? I'm waiting on Juani's call as he continues to consult.
Back to the events of Monday in Rm. 2-17, in the Salinas Hub.
At dinner time, the Neurologist visited, Dr. Maruso, from Mexico. He evaluated Papi and told him that he will improve with rehab and that he's not completely recovered yet, but that he will recover w/ therapy. (Both doctors were Spanish and communnicated with Papi in English and Spanish which really helped to spark their communication and connect w/ Papi.)
We spoke with Dr. Maruso about the change in Papi's agility-last week he was shuffling with a cane, and this week he's spry and walking 18 steps and springing in and out of bed.  The Dr. said let me see and took Papi's hands and swiveled them around from the wrists for 30 sec.  Then he said that Papi had some rigidity that might mean the beginning of Parkinson's.  He proceeded to say that the death of some Brain tissue may have counteracted the Parkinson's, quieting the parts of the brain that over-fire.  We were amazed, again.  Unbelievably, Papi had recovered well, and now it was possible that a life-threatening stroke, averted, by the grace of God in response to many prayers, had neutralized a Parkinson's Disease onset.  Wow.
Now, we are contacting the case manager from social services to secure a hospital bed.  Papi will stay in the den while the hall bathroom is remodeled from bath to shower. I'm trying to post photos of our day together.