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                                                  STROKES ARE VERY CHALLENGING 
In late September, Willie, our housemate of forty years, now age ninety-one, had a fairly severe stroke that left her right side--face, hand, leg--badly impaired.  After she had a brief hospital stay and two weeks of intense therapy at a rehab facillity, we decided that her continued recovery would be best served by bringing her home.  It was, we believe, the best course of action, even though the first couple of weeks here at home left Dorothy and me exhausted because Willie needed contant help day and night with nearly everything.  Three months later, the situation has stabilized somewhat and Willie is capable of some self-care.  With the help of sessions with Visiting Nurses twice a week and coaching from us, she has regained  the ability to use her right hand to write, can move around adeptly in a wheelchair at night and a walker during the day.  She's beginning to learn how to walk with a cane.  We've been able to take some outings to see her MD and to get a Covid shot (Covid is running rampant in Western Massachusetts since the holidays) at her pharmacy.  She loves playing balloon tennis (batting an inflated balloon back and forth with a racquet, a good balance exercise). She has a long way to go, and it's not at all certain how much she will have recovered by six months post-stroke.  Our lives have been largely Willie centered for months now and probably will remain at least somewhat so for the foreseeable future.  Wish us luck.  We welcome your prayers.

February: Hopes for 2022

Willie showing a Joan of Arc mural.

 

The year is still young.  Time to list some hopes for 2022.

 

1. Health:  No more visits to Cooley Dickinson's ER.  None of us will trip and fall (as all three of us did in 2021).  Dorothy's walk will continue to improve.  Willie will find plenty of time to work on the murals in her Joan of Arc series. (See example pictured above.)  Gerry will pass all his medical tests this month and lose some pandemic pounds.

 

2. Home: The new septic system will be successfully built.

 

3. Our old car (2008) and truck (2007) will continue to run well.

 

4. World: The Covid pandemic threat will diminish.  The midterm elections won't be too messy, and please, no more wars!

 

     Sound like tall tales?  Maybe, but hope springs eternal.

 

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