Late last week I got some terrible news. One of the people I worked with for over a year and got to be pretty good friends with, and still kept in contact with even after we both went seperate ways within Mayo Clinic...well, she had a stroke almost two weeks ago. News of Sara's condition only got out on Wednesday, and I found out on Thursday. She lives alone, and didn't show up for work that day. For some reason, no one thought to check on her until late Thursday of that week. Here she had collapsed on the floor and was there for almost two whole days before someone checked on her! She's paralyzed on the right side of her body, although she is finally starting to get some tingling sensations on that side. Her speech is improving from not being able to speak at all, but she has a long way to go. The doctors determined that the reason for the stroke was from a hole that had formed in her heart. The last I had heard, they were planning on operating on heart sometime this week. She's VERY fortunate to even be alive.

I went to see her tonight, and she looked pretty good all things considering. In many ways, Sara is still the same person she was. She's getting frustrated that her body won't do what it once did, though, and it breaks my heart to see her like that. Her speech is slow and sometimes hard to understand, but the therapy she's getting will hopefully work to her full recovery. When I was saying goodbye to her, she told me to remember her as she was when we used to work together as opposed to remembering her as she is now. All I could do is give her a hug, and I didn't want to let go.

I plan on visiting Sara as much as I can while she's still at St. Mary's Hospital. I've been told that she really lights up when she gets visitors, and especially from those people closest to her. But something that can also really help is prayer. I pray that she recovers well enough to get back the life she had only a couple of weeks ago, taken from her without warning. I pray that the people that love her most can get her through this. I pray that her spirits are kept high and that she doesn't give in to discouragement. It's going to be a long, tough road ahead, and she needs all the prayers she can get.
[Edited 1/28/06 9:01am]

TMPletz

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's stroke. I will certainly add to my prayers hopes that she will make a full recovery. If you would like to orgnote me her full name and location (just the town will do), I can also add her to the prayers of my healing group as well. They will perform distance healing on her if she would like that but they can't do it without permission.

I hope she gets better. You sound like a wonderful friend.

Prayer really works, even doctors say so

Awww

Just continue to be the dear friend you are. It is a tough road and your friend is blessed to have you along on her journey.

It's also scary to think she's only 36 (as of this past Saturday)...just a year older than myself.

"... for I am your God, Who healeth thee..."

Exodus 15:27



.
[Edited 1/23/06 23:28pm]

TMPletz said:

It can happen to anyone, any age.

I have a friend who had a stroke 4 years ago. In December I met up with him at a wedding and he was dancing the night away.

nilegettolrahc said:

Another friend of ours promised her a night out complete with margaritas when she's well enough. I hope she's able to dance then like your friend could.

god, how precious is life and how thankful should we be for our health ...she is lucky to have u hun and I hope she makes a quick recovery

Love and prayers for her!

Prayers can make a difference.
Hope she has a full recovery.

shellyevon said:

yes they do. Keep praying and keep your head up in faith....it will get you through.

Todd...I'll pray with you...






You and Sara hang in there. It sounds like she's on a road to recovery. Thank God someone found her when they did. I can't imagine laying there for two days with no one around.

you...

May God's healing hands surround Sara and give her doctors the discernment and wisdom to treat her in the way that is best. God, give her courage to get through her recovery, and thank you for her friends that love her so much.

I just came back from seeing Sara again. She seemed to be in good spirits tonight. Sara's boyfriend, mother, brother and his child were all there to visit. Unfortunately I couldn't stay long as I only had 30 minutes of breaktime to work with. I did tell her before I left that I would stop by each day I work over at this hospital, though, and that made her pretty happy. Each day they allow her to wear her own clothes, and I think that makes a difference in how she feels knowing that she's not wearing those terrible looking hospital gowns. She's also getting around in a wheelchair rather than being restricted to her bed, so that's a plus. I'm going to see her again tomorrow and on Friday.

Thank you for all the prayers. Keep 'em coming!

Hope she will recover

Just an update here. On Thursday, they had Sara WALKING! She's regaining mobility in her right leg. I saw her that evening, and she was so exhausted that she fell asleep mid-sentence as she was talking to me. Her right arm is still unresponsive, but I'm hoping that'll come in time. I can tell she's pretty concerned about that. I have noticed during the past week, though, that her speech IS getting better!

The surgery to repair her heart was going to be this past week, but they postponed it to evidently allow her to regain some strength before the operation. It looks like it could possibly be sometime this coming week or the early part of the week following.

She still has a long way to go yet, but progress is being made.

TMPletz said:

That's really great news buddy! She's in my thoughts.

Sara will definitely be in my prayers, T. please keep us updated