Update 12/13/12 By Michelle

We are long over due for an update. My mom is still working hard to regain that which has been lost. She is such a fighter. Progress is very, very slow for her but she is progressing. The main focus in rehabilitation right now is her communication skills. There are some tests that can be done to help classify her injury, but she has to be able to communicate. They are working with strengthening her eyes and are still working with being able to use the switch (a bar that goes under her chin and sets off a buzzer when depressed by her jaw) as her main forms of "speaking". She uses her buzzer for yes and makes a stink eye face for no. She has mouthed several words, but her ability to articulate is not there. The muscles in her face and jaw are still very tight. On a good day, she can open her mouth up enough to get a toothbrush in, barely. We have seen some movement in her hands, legs, torso and feet. It is hard to know if they are controlled moves or more of a muscle spasm or reflex. The doctors are still working to stabilize her blood pressure. She has a good day then two bad days. It is very stressful to try and figure out what is going on on the not so good days. I flew home over the weekend. My family desperately needs a mommy for a few weeks. I will be back the first week of January. My dad is there by himself right now. I wish there were more of me. I am struggling with the balance of needing to be there and here. Right now the plan is my mom will come home on Jan 10th. She will need nursing care 24 hours a day. My dad and I have gotten lots of training on how to care for her, but it will take more than the two of us to accomplish this task. I will be working on a care calendar for visits and repetative needs they will have. I have faith that there is a path prepared for her and us to fullfill her needs. We have not gotten this far to find ourselves alone.