Slow But Sure (end of month six)

It's hard to believe it has been six full months since Mike had his stroke. There has been progress , but slow, too slow for my liking. Physically, there is movement in the leg, every session he gets stronger and stronger but it will be a while before there is anything of significance like walking on his own with a a quad cane,  although he is making good progress with both the hemi walker and working on the treadmill. He has trouble with low blood pressure, the doctor has now adjusted his meds. We have physio twice a week at NeuroLogic and the Ccac girls do it to, so we are trying all we can with that.

We finally found a good sling for his shoulder and that has been helping with the pain. He does not complain as much and the sensitivity seems to be abating, there has been movement in the arm and some more muscle build up, he has moved it a bit. 

He is now toileting himself, dressing himself, shaves, eats and has even made a bagel and put cream cheese on it. For the most part, he is in a good mood except when he gets frustrated or drive together, that is never good. 

Speech therapy has been a huge disappointment, we have still not found anyone good who can help him although he has been coming out with many more words and sentences. He is still calling me Mom and sometimes honey, I have given up that old fight. Not worth it. Everyone who sees him says he is better every time.

I am still struggling emotionally, Mikes mother was very ill so we have not seen the family as they are needed more there. Cris and Arnie have been reconnecting and Leslie and Jim and Anne Forbes have come into my life again. I have been trying to continue to go to the gym and lately been leaving Mike  alone to walk the dog, both of us are getting more comfortable with it.

Still no snow to speak of, but I have, gotten a snow plow contract thanks to Maggie and Luc, and got the oil changed and tires, got my sticker and new licence and everything put away for the winter. I have started to decorate for the holidays, I need to move on with life. As hard as it is, I can't mourn forever. I have started to get some help in that area.

So we move on to month seven, and I hope more improvement, would love to see him walk with the can unaided by the end of this next period.