There are things in this life that you can simply never be prepared for. One of them is a phone call from your child that starts with “Mom, are you sitting down?” Instinctively your stomach knots as you wait for the next words. “I’m in a hospital in ICU. I’ve had two strokes.” My daughter said my response was “No. That can’t happen. That can’t happen.” I don’t remember saying those words, or even all of the conversation that followed, but I do remember shaking uncontrollably for the better part of the next hour. I had to rouse my husband from sleep and tell him what had just happened, and quickly prepare to fly out of town. You see, I am in Texas and my daughter (my only child), is 1,000 miles away in Minnesota. And yes, it’s just too far from home!
The last several weeks have been a blur of hospitals, doctors, nurses, insurance paperwork and appointments, and trying to assist my daughter after she was released from the hospital. And I was dealing with extreme temperature changes (below zero most days), and learning to drive in the snow and ice. The very GOOD NEWS is that my daughter doesn’t seem to have any lasting effects from her two mild strokes. Still, as she is only 29 years of age without other risk factors, the neurologist is puzzled as to exactly what caused them. The determination is arterial dissection with stroke. and she will be on blood thinner medication, which requires close monitoring, for at lest the next 3-6 months. These medications also require dietary changes.
I have been home now for one week. My daughter will be going back to work next week, which is also good news since she had just graduated from the University of Minnesota and started a new job. I have a deep faith and believe in the power of prayer, and can honestly say that we have found many blessings in this trial. For one, I have to say that all the staff at the Fairview Southdale Hospital where my daughter was treated, and all the other medical and insurance personnel we worked with were simply amazing! I can honestly say that I think she received the very highest level of care possible. To the folks of Minneapolis and Edina, you have a piece of my heart.
“Though they are grown and flown
Never does a day pass
without the same worry
how are they, where are they
though they may be grown
In your eyes the child never ends nor should it”
Bill Mitton
Sassmuffins 
My thoughts are with both her and you! That is quite surprising that she had 2 strokes… I would have never thought someone so young could get them. She’s the same age as I am. Glad things are getting back to normal for you now…
Thanks Ann. Yes it is quite surprising and very unusual. I think she and I are both very glad that things are getting back to “normal”, although I think I may yet delay reopening my Etsy shop for awhile. But I am ready at least to get back into blogging. While in Minnesota I just couldn’t think of the “back door” entry into my WordPress account for posting (bookmarked at home), and finally just gave up, which was just as well because there were just too many more important things to do!
That must have been a shock – I’m not surprised you struggled to process that information at first.
I send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thanks Clowie! Shocking, absolutely. And something I never want to hear again, absolutely.
Wow! I’m in shock, thought you were here for a fun visit. That sounds so very scary, but I’m glad she seems to be doing okay and doesn’t have any real damage. Hopefully, she can get back into her life and this will never happen again. Minnesota does have great medical facilities, that is for sure, but it still doesn’t change the fact that it happened. Had we known you were here, we could have provided some support for you if you needed it, but maybe you have more family up here?
Oh I wish I had made the trip for a fun visit. I had not seen my daughter since August, but told her the next time we see each other it needs to be under better circumstances! Even many friends in Austin did not know I was there; everything just happened so fast and I was so busy while there. No family there…daughter went there specifically to go to the University of Minnesota where she has now obtained a degree in Skandinavian languages (Swedish). She does have a long-time boyfriend there now and his family was very supportive.
Oh my goodness. Sending positive thoughts for a complete recovery.
Thank you so much! All positive thoughts appreciated!