Neuro Surgeon Check up: Standard procedure after placing the kind of stent that Daddy got in his R carotid is to do another angiogram in 6 mo. to check it. But Daddy’s blood flow landscape is so complicated, Dr. C will ask for new scans in a couple months and will decide in January if the combination of these images can verify that the stent is doing its job. If not, she will have to go back in 😑. *Please pray that Daddy will do well (including no Gall Bladder episodes), and that the stent will function correctly and the images will suffice. * Monday and Tuesday are my busiest days – I get to see all my peeps!!! But for the rest of the week I devote myself to our Recovery Enrichment Curriculum 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve totally roped D and R into helping me plan 🤣🤣🤣. * Please also pray for Matt @hopeforhankey as he gets his baclofen pump replaced today. It will take 6 wks to recover from this surgery.* #avmsurvivor #strokesurvivor #brainaneurysm #lifeismysport #learninghowtolive #shreddedgrace
This Week at Chez Tan
We got Daddy a new scan yesterday for his checkup with Dr. C (Neuro Surgeon) next week. We three make a great team. We spread cheer and jollification throughout the clinic yesterday while we visited the imaging department 🤣🤣🤣. We have also been busy with other things. Bossy Smurf is on high alert and as a disabled person I’m willing to pay for tech services and upgrades that allow me to accomplish things paperlessly. Daddy was discharged last week from home PT and will be discharged from home OT today. We will be devoting ourselves to home exercise, specifically to the building blocks that will improve his mobility. I’ve got my thinking cap on and will verify with my people. It takes a village. Good thing God gave me one. 🤣🤣🙌🔥. **Please pray for a good check up next week and the Lord’s help to exercise diligently. And please remember my AVM friend, X, who is getting some surgical maintenance done next week.*** #avmsurvivor #strokesurvivor #lifeismysport #learninghowtolive #shreddedgrace
Vascular Surgeon ✅
Just saw the Vascular Surgeon. The 2 latest ultrasounds show that Daddy is stable. YAY!! Now we can concentrate on our quiet home routine – we get to wait a year before coming back. However, we do still have a check up with the Neuro Surgeon next month, and Gall Bladder monitoring to attend to. But I’m so pleased that today’s visit was uneventful. 🙌💗
Define “Bump”
My last post referenced “bumps in the road.” Injuries happen – it behooves me to learn to move safely, but sometimes you can’t help it. But to be clear: My hip tore bc of Real Life, NOT gym life – what I do in the gym both mitigates the risk of injury and heals me up when those inevitable injuries happen. My L hip originally tore in 2016 on a trip to the playground with my babies involving uneven/rough terrain. Randy rehabbed me so I broke up with my Ortho Surgeon via email bc I am supremely uninterested in Surgical Intervention. I liked my surgeon, though – he explained that a ton of people my age might have a labral tear, but they can hack it, whereas my body/joints do not function like regular folks’ do. He also pointed out the difference bw pain and functionality. I got a lot better but was diagnosed with the tears again in March (it got aggravated bc of my balance disruption concurrent with hearing loss resulting in hilarious but harmful evasive lateral movements). Lately my hip and legs have been acting up. My Neuro and Coach R have looked at me and pointed out that I cannot ignore this forever. After R did soft tissue work on the lower legs Mon we spoke frankly and R said the hip’s already torn – I’m not necessarily going to make it worse, it’s just that my activities might make me more aware of the pain sometimes. My real beef was that I lost a ton of functionality within the last 2 weeks. So he said that if I fail to continue strength training with him and Trainer D, I will definitely deteriorate. Cautionary Tales with Coach R 🤣😑! This was music to Sister Maria’s ears and he made me work SO HARD yesterday. But you know what? Even though I had Jello legs after the workout I WAS NOT LIMPING like I was when I walked into the gym. And 24 hours later I’m STILL not limping. Confidence through strength training. FASCINATING. Thanks, David and Randy! I know I’m bossy and fuss with you both, but I actually DO listen to what you say. And I’m so glad I feel better bc I need the energy to hang out with Mommy Daddy – we have a couple docs (not mine) to see this week! Thank you for praying for us. xoxo
Always Learning…8 years
Today is my 8th Anniversary of walking, but learning to walk is NOT One and DONE. I surround myself with Smart People whom I have given the responsibility of refining my gait so it lasts until I die. *It is THRILLING to me that 8 yrs later I am still learning and improving.* Mobility Seeking Friends: I defined “walking” as 2 rounds of the kitchen without touching anything. It took 3 tries. I fell the first time but I shook it off and tried again. Although I learned the fundamentals and nuances from pros, I have made the biggest gains during periods of solo home exercise. When I have returned to rehab/training, they noticed. Listen to your people, but do not fear taking a break, or being discharged. Think about what you’ve learned, visualize it in your mind and practice in real life. It’s hard work, and can be complicated bc you gotta balance time, finances, what fits your family’s lifestyle, but it’s worth it. 🔥💗 Praying for you all today. PS. This is the last PPT slide I made for the one and only Matt @hopeforhankey . The graph signifies that our appetite for information is voracious. There will be bumps in the road, but the trend is directionally correct: Relentlessly Upward. #avmsurvivor #strokesurvivor #lifeismysport #learninghowtolive #shreddedgrace
All good 😊
Daddy got a new bag – the tube will be replaced in November. So today was pretty easy. The line was checked and imaged to verify it was clear. 😊💗 Now we three are going home to have more Fun Times. It’s so pretty out!
New GB Tube
Daddy’s going to get his Gall Bladder drainage tube replaced today. The procedure will take a couple hours and then we can come home. Please pray for success and comfort. Thanks! 💗
Kindness from Little Ones
My sweet niece and nephew chose this plant for me. 💗 kindness from little ones just…Sniff Sniff 💗. We just finished OT and are waiting for PT to arrive. It’s been a nice day at home although a busy one. We are all rather tired. I’m trying to hold on for another couple months before I can start rehabbing my L hip for real. I’ve done quite well for the last 6 months, but I’m showing signs of compensation-induced wear. Thank you for your prayers! Thanks!! #avmsurvivor #strokesurvivor #lifeismysport #learninghowtolive #shreddedgrace
Bossy Smurf Rides Again
We’ve had a good week – the home care RN, PT, and OT who saw Daddy prior to the Gall Bladder hospitalization have rejoined us. We continue to quietly do our duty – but my favorite part is just keeping Daddy company and sitting with Mommy. In the middle of the night I woke and asked Alexa to play Schubert’s Trout Quintet – it’s going to be the soundtrack of our OT (@jnelliott 😳) exercises (I have a couple Daddy playlists) – I’m going for ROM as well as the metronome effect. Man alive, my left hand got SO TIRED! ROTFLOL. Please continue to pray for Daddy’s health and strength (he’s got more pain today and we’ve got a lot of follow up to do), Mommy ❤ , too, and for me – my legs are acting up. But David gave me the Best Walking Pep Talk Ever, Randy worked on my ankle and caught me a few times, and now I’m distracting myself with work – please note the Bossy Smurf glasses – I’m working on something for Matt @hopeforhankey . Yes, I talk to him in PPT. He cracks me up digitally. We have a good system. #avmsurvivor #strokesurvivor #lifeismysport #learninghowtolive #shreddedgrace
Next Steps
Daddy is recovering from his week in the hospital and I’m so pleased to have him and Mommy home. He will have the drainage bag for the foreseeable future. Daddy must visit the Neurologist and the Interventional
Radiologist to seek clearance to have his gall bladder removed. He will see his surgeon again in 1 month. Please pray for healing and restoration and that even while he prepares for another procedure, he will recover from the June procedure that was…complicated. We thank the Lord for His overruling and especially that Daddy has gained strength and stability in his legs even over the last week. Please pray for Mommy and me, too!! Thanks. PS. These pretty flowers came from my 🇬🇧Aunty for her big brother 💗.
