I have just spent the weekend with Mum in Regina. It's harvest time in Saskatchewan and the weekend included two achingly beautiful Autumn days. We can see the leaves changing colour from Mum's room.
I am keenly aware that the four West Nile Virus Neurological Syndrome (WNVNS) patients that I have come to know about were all active people in their 70s until their chance meeting with the Culex Tarsalis mosquito. All love the outdoors and had spent their summers enjoying creation -- gardening, farming, travelling in Canada and internationally, camping, building decks, fishing, painting, buildings, walking and hiking.
This week as Isabel's family, we continue to await further assessment of Mum's prognosis and treatment while researching medical articles that can inform our own increasing knowledge. No patient with WNVNS presents in the same way. Some symptoms are similar, but many are different depending on what part of their neurological system was affected. Each is on their own path to recovery.
Mum spends a lot of time catnapping and sleeping. She is probably catching up on a few decades of sleep! When she is awake, Mum is alert and very interested in your news -- and particularly stories of inspiration from the personal lives of her family and friends. Some of you have also been on long slow roads to recovery and mention of you brings many nods from Mum. She is enjoying hearing about harvest progress and daily weather reports! Bringing the outside world to her hospital room is so important. Thank you for sharing your hope with Mum.
At this time Mum has no oral words as she copes with throat paralysis and breathing with a respirator. A task for this week is to determine how best to help her communicate with hand, eye, hand, head and shoulder movements so that she can give us more information about her thoughts and feelings. She does a very good job already -- we just have to figure out what particular movements mean! During weekdays, Mum has physiotherapy twice a day so she is finding her seat on the saddle again. When she is alone, she continues to do hand, arm, and ankle exercises on her own. She is so determined! This progress is slow, but it is progress!
On Sunday, she raised a definite "Thumbs Up" while hearing the story of another WNVNS patient who "lives next door" and who had shared his hope with Mum through a visit from his daughter.
Thank you for winging your prayers and energy for her neurological healing. We also pray that she may know how many people are pulling for her right now! You are all part of Mum's community who is holding her and us -- and each other -- in care.
To those that have asked about sending messages: Please do so to:
or by Canada Post to: Box 190,
Abernethy, SK S0A 0A0. Canada.
We continue to ask for NO VISITORS at this time. Isabel needs a tremendous amount of rest to recover. Much of her awake time is spent in therapy. The stimulation that comes from your messages that we can share with her at this time is what is needed. Thanks for understanding.
It is another brilliant harvest day in Saskatchewan as we continue to juggle combining, trucking, school, extra-curricular activities, nursing and education jobs, visits with Mum, and research and
advocacy about her health care. We know that Mum is cheering us -- and all of you -- as well!
With gratitude,
Catherine
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