Update on Joyce Houghton

Hello all

First of all - hi Wendy! The photos are terrific. I have got a few too that I will scan on in a quiet moment.

Mum was taken into hospital on Tuesday 9 October. She is currently in Clyst Ward, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter. A scan shows significant damage caused by a blood clot in the brain resulting in a surrounding bleed. (I am not medically trained - hope that makes sense). She has movement in all of her limbs but lacks strength. Mentally she is really confused and is muddling the past with the present, but lives mostly in the past. In the first few days in hospital she demonstrated a bit of character and smiled quite a bit. As time goes on she seems more distracted and tends to drift off unable to maintain concentration.

I have visited her everyday and have tried to ensure her comfort and make sure her basic needs are catered for. She needs assistance to eat and is fed liquidised food. The doctors are currently doing a few minor tests, I understand that Mum is now waiting for a place at Budleigh Salterton Hospital (an old cottage style establishment) where she will be rehabilitated as far as she can be. At the moment the view of nurses at the hospital is that because of her confusion it would be unlikely to see a return home. However, I am keeping her home ready for her and will remain optimistic (but realistic).

I have been taking in lots of photos to show both Mum and the staff - everyone in the ward is elderly and grey haired so it is good to give her her own identity. The staff have now got the measure of Mum's love of dogs and indeed Spotty, her 81 year old Dalmation Nightdress Case that Aunty Gertie gave her is on the bed and is much admired and usually stroked by all who pass!!

I would love to write more cheery things - maybe I will be able to next time.

Love to all who read this.

Sally

STROKE SIGN

New Sign of a Stroke -- Stick out Your Tongue

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folk:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:


During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that ! she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned u p and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.


It only takes a minute ! to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke < /FONT>.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:


S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE(Coherently) (I.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.


NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this:
Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other! , that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Wendy
Thank you for posting all those wonderful pictures.
Nic