04-07-05  18:46, Ardith Hinton told James Bradley about -Plegias  2.

 Well, how do, Ardith?

 JB>  If memory serves, stroke is more common than vehicle
 JB>  collisions.


 AH> I don't know... but I do know it is one of the 
 AH> three major causes of death & it's much more common at 
 AH> younger ages than the majority of people think it is.  When 
 AH> Nora was in the neurological ward at BCCH, for example, we 
 AH> met two other kids who had recently had strokes... and one 
 AH> of them was still a toddler.
 
Well, that's at least a side benefit of hospitals - the camaraderie. /-:

I was about ten, when I was incarcerated with two broken forearms. Across
from me, another kid with two broken forearms. Both of us daredevils!

I broke three bones launching my bicycle and myself off a retaining wall,
and the other guy, a wagon down a hill. He only broke one bone at first
though, and as soon as he was released, he got right back on the same
wagon, onto the same hill, and busted up his other arm! I think they kept
him in a little longer just to make sure he wasn't going to break anything
else once he got out.
 

 AH> As I understand the situation, this type of repair occurs
 AH> within  the same hemisphere.  The cerebrum is quite large by 
 AH> comparison to other areas.  If the part of the brain 
 AH> responsible for a particular function still works, but is 
 AH> reduced in size, it may be able to recover & expand.  If 
 AH> some part doesn't work at all its duties may be reassigned. 
 AH> But job assignments which were previously grouped together
 AH> will thus be scattered around various places, with a 
 AH> resulting slowdown in communication, so the system tends to 
 AH> work less efficiently.
 
Ah, right. I forget where I got the notion of the opposite hemisphere...
Likely from another afliction.
 
 AH> Yes, it is.  From our standpoint, however, the
 AH> good news is that the more effort a person puts into 
 AH> recovery the more they'll probably recover.  :-)
 
I just *know* you two are conscious of body language, and when Nora speaks
of "Getting over the stroke..." you don't give any subconscious
messages. I couldn't imagine the road you're on, but I'm sure you want to
encourage any progress possible.
 
 AH> Uh-huh.  Nora needs help dealing with bureacracy... but
 AH> IMHO she  has the right instincts.  When she was in hospital after 
 AH> her stroke, she was asking for a wheelchair before she 
 AH> could sit erect without being propped up.  Somebody gave us 
 AH> a song & dance about how she might fall out of the 
 AH> wheelchair, at which point I mentioned that the nurses at 
 AH> UBC had used a standard wheelchair when my father was in a 
 AH> similar situation & propped him up with pillows... and that I'd be
 AH> glad to  bring the seat belt we already owned.  Then they got the OT 
 AH> & the PT to figure out how to get Nora out of bed & into a 

OT, + PT?

 AH> chair.  Eventually, these two ladies remembered they had a
 AH> neuro chair collecting dust in the basement... and when one 
 AH> of the other Moms saw it she asked if her son could use it 
 AH> as well!  I think the resources are available in many 
 AH> cases, but it's necessary to take the initiative.  If you 
 AH> seem content to lie around watching TV that's probably what 
 AH> you'll get.  But if you want something more you may have to 
 AH> keep rattling cages until you find a person who knows 
 AH> what's there & how you can access it....  :-)
 
Rattling cages I know about.  I think I mentioned my reluctance to
start the palliative care? Thirty-Five, and they wanted to put me to rest?
They had another thing comin'! 
 
 JB>  Cheers! There are some you just can't get enough of,
 JB>  and some you just try to escape. Just like in person,
 JB>  really. You aint the later, I assure you!


 AH> Aww, shucks... [blush].  And neither are you, BTW....  :-))

Just understand, my `lay down to type' 'puter seems OTL until I can sink
more money into it. This 'puter can be a little challenging to type on, and
it *is* spring here. I am eager to get out in the weather a bit, even if I
don't get much done. At least I can generate some vitamin-D. I will likely
be slowing down on fido a bit, but I'll continue to have you three in my
thoughts and prayers.


... James

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