Some Rudie vibes needed in Pittsburgh tonight!

[dragonlady]

My mom is in emergency brain surgery as we speak at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. This morning when she went for dialysis she was so disoriented and altered that they sent her over to the Kittaning Hospital to have her checked out. After taking a CT scan they found so much fluid on her brain that the neurologist said she needed surgery to relieve the pressure pretty much immediately but he wan't comfortable with the facilities at Kittaning (a small rural hospital). He wanted permission to move her to Presby in Pittsburgh. My sister, with my mom's POA, gave permission and she was moved. As soon as she arrived she should have been taken right into surgery. My sister hasn't even had time to get to the hospital yet.

My other sister and I are trying to arrange to get up there tonight with 6 inches of snow called for in the next 6 hours. Mom may not survive the surgery at all and if she does may have brain damage. Hard to say at this point.

I'm having problems with my health at this point too but right now this is all I can think about.

Thanks ya'll,

-di

[Elliott]

As hard as it is to stay home today, please do. Your mother knows how much you love her, and being there won't make any difference to anyone but you. Everybody who cares about you wants you safe and sound at home. Call every hour if you must, but there is no need to try and travel in that mess. I'm lighting a candle. Hang in there, Best E

[dragonlady]

My other sister won't stay put so I'm not letting her drive up alone...or I would be satying at home.

It is very likely she will die tonight...my sister Karen will not be swayed.

-di

[coffeegyrl]

Extra special Rudie Vibes for you and your family tonight Di.

[Sara]

Love, prayers, Rudie vibes - all rushing to Pittsburgh for your Mom, Di. Take care of yourself, too. I'm lighting a candle, as well.

[TwinLori]

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers in your time of need. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you, OK? Lori

[JoanM]

Di, Prayers are with you, may you make it safely knowing you've done what you can. Be safe, go with God...I'm off to light a candle jm

[GodSistah]

Praying for you in California. (((hugz)))

[dragonlady]

An update: We're putting off driving up till tomorrow or early Saturday after talking to my sister, Darla, and brother-in-law, Steve up in PA. The weather for Pittsburgh is now expecting snow up to a foot and the weather advisory is extended to Saturday morning. It really isn't safe to drive. By the time we get to the Turnpike it will be closed.

Mom got to the Pittsburgh hospital the neurosurgeon talked to my family and said that the surgery will be tomorrrow. The fluid on her brain will be relieved but no symptoms will be remediated. She has left side paralysis like a stroke victim and permanent brain damage causing cognitive difficulties still to be ascertained. Draining the fluid will save her life but her quality of life is exactly what she told us she would not tolerate living in.

Now Kathleen won't miss her appointment tomorrow to find out if she has breast cancer or not...aren't we having a fun week?

-di

[Amy in Vermont]

Di:

I am praying for all of you.

If you need to talk, my phone number is in my Facebook info. Facing these kinds of issues with our parents truly sucks.

[Sara]

More Rudie vibes for your Mom, Kathleen, and you.

[dreamchaser728]

Vibes and thoughts coming from KC!

[Marcia Drummergal]

Gosh Dian. I am SO sorry. Rudie vibes are beaming their way to you from Cincinnati. Thinking of you and your mom.....

Marcia

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Di... Betty and I send our prayers to you and yours... Do what you need to do but stay safe this weather is horrible.

Best with hugs

R & B

[lucille]

Di, rudie vibes from here. Take care.

[Roady]

Rudie vibes coming your way di! You and your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Roady

[KarenSews2]

Lots of Rudie vibes heading your way, Di.

[hoops]

Dian, I'm sending your many rudie vibes, positive thoughts and prayers for you and your whole family. miracles can happen. hugs to you too. there are no words to make it better, just love and prayers.
peace
hoops

[Bat]

I'm with Hoops. Don't count your chickens, etc. Just wait and see what is happening, and you have my best wishes for a good outcome for your mom and you, too. Best, Bat

[Mary6906]

Dear Di, keeping you and your family in my prayers... sending strong Rudie Vibes and will light a candle.

[Mimi]

So sorry to hear about your Mum, Di! I'm keeping you and yours in my prayers and extra strong Rudie Vibes are heading over to Pittsburgh!
Please take good care of yourself, will you?

BIG HUG, MIMI

[Dee]

Scary stuff. Prayers for strength for you Di, and for the best possible outcome for your Mom. (((HUGS)))

[razal]

Love and caring thoughts....try to go moment by moment...best outcome for all....

[Rickster]

Di, Strong Rudie prayers coming your way from New York! Big hugs to you!

[Judy]

A safe trip, Di...this weather is nothing to under estimate. Strength and stamina for your mom and you.

[gisli]

Praying for you and your family, take care.

[Eva]

Oh no Dian... I wish you all strength and the best outcome possible.

Eva

[BeckyVA]

Dian,
my prayers are with you and your family.
Keeping Kath in our prayers as well. Waiting is heart wrenching...please be safe in your travels ...Take care of yourself.
Lighting a candle like all the others.

[Beth]

A hug. Tough time for you and your family. Hang in there together.

[Dar]

Oh Di! Peggy and I are sending vibes to your Mom. Never say never, it may not be as dire as you fear. Miracles, especially Rudie driven ones, happen.
Hugs to you

[dragonlady]

Here's the latest update, Mom had the surgery this afternoon. The pressure on the brain has been relieved. They kept moving it back. She hasn't spoken since yesterday at dialysis and is paralyzed on the left side. The brain damaged needs to be assessed but it defintely looks like she has some some type of aphasia. How much she improves will determine our next steps since the doctors are already talking about a feeding tube.

Kathleen had her biopsy today and we'll know the results next week but based on the ultrasound, the surgeon says that no matter what the result she will have to have the mass removed period. It has increased three times the size since her last mammogram and has its own blood supply which seems to be the thing that is alarming everyone the most.

-di

[angelgirl]

Much love, rudievibes and angel heartlinks on their way.

O x

[marjan]

hope everything will work out fine.. lit a candle for you, your mom and kathleen

[hoops]

keeping up the vibes and the hope
peace
hoops

[Kath of the Guitar]

Sorry to hear this Di, keeping all of you in our prayers,
and sending the R Vibes from Fla.
Be safe in your travels my friend!

[Denise]

My thoughts and prayers are with you as well. <<hugs from Maine>>

[saxman]

Calif is sending good vibes your way

[dragonlady]

These doctors can't make up their minds...now she didn't have a stroke but a subderuarl hematoma, like Natasha Richardson, only hers was a slow one. Whatever...they finally decide, my little mama has a huge scar on her head, they removed the drain hangin out of her skull this morning. She speaks intermittantly and is getting some feeling a
back in her face and arm...leg not so much. It is so hard to see her like this.

Keep the vibes coming...her improvement over the next couple of days is crucial.

Thanks for your love and support,

-di

[Sara]

More loving Rudie vibes to your dear mama, di.

[Bat]

I guess it's bettter to have a sub dural than a stroke...just wish the docs would get on track! They don't sound too reliable at this juncture, but I guess they have their moments like anyone else, and they finally got it right. It seems mom is trying to recover, and she may regain a lot...the next few days will tell. Best to you all! Keep us posted, Dian. Hope for the best and keep cheerful for mom.

[Beth]

And even well beyond the next few days, much recovery is possible. Your presence and love are invaluable in the gains she will make.

Good thoughts.

[RandyVa]

Dian,
Where there is life there is hope. Don't ever forget that. Look at me and realize anything is possible.

RandyVa

[aspiemom]

Rudie vibes coming to you and yours from Georgia.

[coffeegyrl]

Sending more Rudie Vibes. Take it one day at a time.

and think long and hard before you ok the feeding tube. Does your mom have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care? (Living Will, Advanced Directive - they are named differently in different areas) If so, then her wishes regarding the feeding tube may have been spelled out.

[Mimi]

Di, I'm checking this thread for news a couple of times each days and Rudie Vibes are coming over the pond your mama's and your way constantly!

Big Hug, MIMI

[dragonlady]

I'm researching nursing facilities that also have rehab services so the docs can discharge her there sometime today or tomorrow. They have to teach her to talk, walk. eat...just about everything again. Her insurance son't allow her to go to a straight rehab facility.

Sally, Mom has made her wishes known regarding advanced directives and such. I'm here to help my sister enforce them, DNR, no feeding tube, no heroic measures etc. she's given us very clear direction on end of life measures since she saw what happened to her mom with alzheimer's and no quality of life for more than a decade.

The doctor's are very pleased with her progress but all I see is my mom not able to do anything she could do the last time I saw her. I don't know how to feel right now.

-di

[Roady]

Prayers and rudies vibes continue to flow you way.

Roady

[Kath of the Guitar]

Di, try to stay positive, as silly as that sounds....
Like Randy said, you just never know!
We're all here for you....{VIBES} and prayers comin' atcha!
{HUGS} to you and Kathleen

[hoops]

Di, the tiniest things can be HUGE. the brain is a very tough organ, it also has extra room just for healing. it may not seem like much but if the docs say it is, I'm sure it is. in the mean time, rudie vibes, positive thoughts and prayers are still coming.
peace
hoops

[coffeegyrl]

Di, I watched my mom's behavior and abilities change after a stroke too. It was really difficult because she was totally fine the day before it happened.

What I learned is that it is totally up to the individual how much they want to regain, and therefore how hard they work in rehab. My mom did well when she was with the rehab therapists, but when she got home she just sat down and wanted a miracle. I don't think she realized that she had to work hard for that miracle. I saw her putting in less and less effort (I was living with her during all of this) and finally she gave up. She died almost exactly a year after her stroke.

This is not meant to discourage you, but to illustrate how the individual's willingness to work hard to recover is a key factor. Take it one day at at time and give her all of the love, positive reinforcement and encouragement that you can.

I'm still praying and sending Rudie Vibes for you, your mom and your sister.

[Agnes]

Still sending RV too, Di. Hang in there!

[dragonlady]

We're back home. Mom is safely moved to a nursing home 20 minutes from my sister's house in PA. Mom is disoriented and confused but the PT's started working with her right away and got her up on a walker already. Getting her mental balance back will be the real trick. Her memory isn't good. The main thing to motivate her with is getting to leave the nursing home.

Kathleen is scheduled for surgery next Thusday at 1:00 in the afternoon. The pathology report says the mass is currently benign but the docs say that is could become malignant especially at the rate it is growing and the fact that is has its own blood supply. It is also too big to just leave in there.

Thanks for everything,

-di

[Beth]

This is a rough ride for you, Di. Hang on and know there are lots of us sending you good energy.

[Bat]

Hang in there Dian! Mom is in a good place for now, and Kathleen got a good diagnosis...just needs surgery right away, so don't wait and dither, get rid of the mass...no big deal. She will heal. Just keep tabs on her post op condition with regular checkups, and thank your lucky stars!
Hugs, with best wishes for the future.
Bat

[hoops]

Dian, postive things for both your mom and Kat. Not the best possible, but good things and the best is on it's way. rudie vibes still coming
peace
hoops

[Diny]

Sending still RV's for you all Dian!

[leslie]

Just found out about all this Di - hope things continue to look up for you and yours. Many RVs heading your way!

[Rickster]

Di, Continued prayers for You and your family while going thru this rough road!