Isabel the Brave!

A few weeks ago, a friend of Isabel's sent her a new CD titled "Scotland the Brave". Mum listens to this collection of Scottish pipe and drum classics nearly every day. Everyone on the Respiratory Unit of Regina General Hospital knows that Mum has Scottish blood and loves the "skirl of the pipes".

In these November days of diminishing light and lengthening nights, we are so aware that Mum is "Isabel the Brave". Mum is so utterly determined to do whatever she can to regain whatever health is possible for her at this time.

On September 25, we posted Mum's diagnosis from her neurologist -- encephalitis, meningitis, and myelitis - with a primary diagnosis of myelitis -- the rarest and most devastating of the West Nile Virus Neurological Syndrome conditions. The neurologist expected very very slow improvement in Mum's condition, and that is what we are seeing -- very very slow improvement. Mum experiences both flaccidity (limpness) and spasticity (rigidity) in her body. She continues in daily physiotherapy to regain her range of motion and flexibility. Mum has regained very little core strength so she must be moved from bed to chair by her physiotherapists or by a mechanical lift. HOWEVER, she is able to sit in her wheelchair for three hours a day. This is improvement. This IS progress!

Mum continues to very slowly wean herself from the respirator and now averages 10 hours a day where she is off the respiratory and uses a mask over the trach in her throat to breathe. The mask provides her with slightly more oxygen and humidity than is in room air. It is heartening to walk into Mum's room and see the respirator turned off -- no flashing lights and beeps!

The process of weaning plus recovery from the virus is exhausting. Some days, Mum sleeps soundly for most of the day. On those days, we need to believe in the healing power of sleep. On other days, Mum is awake for much of the day. Her nights and sleep patterns also vary and we are thankful for the company of varied CDs, CBC radio, and attentive nurses who work a 2-1 (patient-nurse) ratio.

Each day is unpredictable. Will this be an awake day or a sleepy day? We never know. When Mum is awake, she is alert and delights in mail, phone calls, visitors, news of Agribition (Canada's huge agricultural show held every November in Regina), and those Grey Cup-winning Saskatchewan Roughriders!

It continues to feel like a miracle that when Mum is awake and alert she appears to remember everything and everyone she has ever known. Communication continues to be a huge challenge as Mum has so much to say to us and does not have the ability to whisper or speak out-loud, although she is mouthing words on a regular basis. We are all working to try to mouth-read. Mum does use the letter-board and often spells out complex thoughts. However, even using the letter-board can be exhausting.

This past week as we discussed the upcoming holiday season, Mum used the letter-board to ask how she would receive her Christmas mail. We reassured her that the Pony Express from Abernethy Post Office continues to work very well!

The third verse of the song, "Scotland the Brave" goes like this:

High in the misty mountains
Out by the purple highlands
Brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies
Wild are the winds to meet you
Staunch are the friends that greet you
Kind as the love that shines from fair maidens' eyes.

The word "staunch" has come to mean "steadfast in loyalty".

Thank you for being those kind staunch family, friends, and community who are supporting Mum and us during these short days and long nights,

Janet, Nancy, and Catherine