Cathryn's Posts

Hi everybody. I am so sorry it's been so long since I posted, and you all have been so supportive and kind, I should have posted sooner. It's Just been hard with what we have been dealing with. So, I think the last time I posted, Judy had finally been moved out of the ICU into the telemetry (step down) unit. She spent a couple weeks there and I was there most every day. She slowly, slowly, slowwwwwwwly improved every day, until she finally was able to be discharged to a post acute skilled nursing facility just down the street from her home in Ellensburg. She came home by ambulance and my stepdad and I were there to meet her. She has now been there almost a month and has made incredible strides. The physical therapist and speech therapist are amazing and work with Judy every day. She is talking up a storm and is easier to understand every day. She has lots of intact memories from before the surgery and brings them up on her own. Her sense of humor is amazing and she cracks jokes all the time, even about her situation. Her right arm and right leg are strong and she works hard to exercise them. I got her to write her name on a sketch pad last week. Unfortunately her left side is still very very weak so she is still unable to walk, though we are not giving up. She has been working on swallowing and is doing well with ice chips. Friday she will have a barium swallow test at the hospital to evaluate whether she can safely start eating solid food. She understands what has happened to her, and the other day we were talking about her heart surgery and how well it went, and how Dr Lehr fixed her heart just like she wanted, minimally invasive, and he fixed her own valve, so she didn't have to have a mechanical or cow valve, etc. Judy then said, "I'm so glad I went up him. I wouldn't have wanted to go to anyone else." It was so sweet she said that after everything that has happened. He had given me his personal cell # and told me to contact him any time so I texted him what she said and he was really touched. This whole thing has really upset him, I can tell. He just feels awful, although like I told him, "You did your job, you fixed her heart, and did it just like she wanted." We are just taking one day at a time and Judy is working very very hard to get stronger and improve to where she can eventually come home. Thanks everybody for your patience and understanding and support. ❤️💕❤️

Hi everybody. I know it's been a long time since I posted and I feel guilty because you all have been so caring with listening to details about our bad outcome. It is now 3/17. After spending a couple weeks in the step down unit, Judy finally made it back across WA state to a skilled nursing facility just down the road from her house. She is getting good physical rehab and speech rehab and is talking up a storm. She is really cognizant mentally, and although her speech is s little slurred, we can understand her. Her right side continues to be very strong, but her left side is very lacking. 😔 Her heart is doing excellent and continues to heal as planned. Dr. Lehr did exactly what he planned to do and the heart repair went great. Minimally invasive , fixed her own valve so she didn't have to have a cow valve. I have no fault with him whatsoever, neither does Judy. She even said yesterday on her own, that she was glad she went to him and she wouldn't have wanted to go to someone else. It's just kinda hard to deal with this outcome, but as my ex days, we have to deal with the hand we are dealt. Love and prayers to you all ❤️