Keep on healing JoJo’s mom! Excellent news Jo.

Can you see me? I’m doing a happy dance. I’m not a good dancer, it’s the thought that counts. 😁

So happy to see this wonderful update! Go, Mom! 🥰

What a great update! Good on you for being such a knowledgeable advocate for your mother with her doctors. Best wishes for her continued improvement.

Glad to see this.

FWIW, don't ventilators hurt the throat? She may not want to swallow because it's painful...

So greteful for this news. 😘

Wonderful!

Such good news! So glad you are able to be there and pick up on the misunderstandings. Hope you can take a break soon and recharge for just a bit. Glad to hear your dad is doing well. Hang in there!

I'm so glad to hear this news. Your mom is a strong lady and she is showing everyone.

Wonderful news!!

This news is so encouraging. Your beautiful Mom is still with you! It may be baby steps, but in the long run, this is exactly what it takes right now. Happy for you all!

Smilingg at your news! Is there a place maybe near her photo that you could make a sign to talk into her left ear? That might help remind them....

Dancing on the perch!

Great news! I think we are all smiling.

YAY!!!

Fantastic news!

I was afraid to open this post but am so happy I did! I will continue to think positive thoughts for your beautiful mom‘s full recovery. Please try to look after your self to JoJo. Being the loved one is so much harder than being the one unwell. Self care is a necessity. xo

Best news I’ve read today!

Been checking in all day, looking for news, hoping it was good. It is! Yes, you and Dad need some rest.

Where are you working on the creepy cabinet?

Jojo, what a relief. My nephew had/has a severe brain injury so this topic interests me. Your mom fell down the stairs, right? Did she hit her head? From what you say she seems to be in fantastic condition, considering... There is certainly hope, don't lose it. You're the perfect advocate for her. Anyone in your family as good as you are to be there for your mom so you can take a break which I know is almost impossible to do. I hope my questions aren't too personal, but I care.

So nice to hear things ar trending more positively.

Ded, I’m working on it in my basement at my cottage.

Jojo I am so happy to read the update. Thank you for sharing the good news.

Oh a HAPPY DAY!

That is good news!

I‘m so glad you got some good news!

Thank you for the update - and the good news too. Very promising. I do hope you and your father can relax a little get some much needed rest.

Little things will turn into big things - prayers will continue!

So happy to hear!! Will keep the prayers coming! 🙏

Glad to hear your good news. Love Debussy...

Thinking of you, thank you for keeping us updated.

Such great news!

I am so happy to hear the good news. Hope everything continues smoothly now.

This is the update, I just sent my siblings.

The neurologist said that mom‘s biggest problem is going to be with speech. It may be very frustrating for her because she’ll hear but may not be able to get a response out. Fortunately, the part of the brain that controls music was not damaged and sometimes you can tap into other parts of the brain to help the one that’s damaged. So we may be able to have Mom communicate more through singing And such. Fascinating thought.

As a general report, mom is doing just as well she did yesterday. They are keeping the vent in for now, because mom has a lung issue where secretions buildup in her lung and need to be suctioned out. Prior to this, she was able to Stay on top of that with a pulmonary device. That remains a big worry for us, but we’re working on it.

Interesting solution to a problem - singing instead of talking.

I know you are anxious to have her off the vent. We will continue to keep you and her in our thoughts.

Thanks for updating us, Jojo. MIght she be able to write, say on a dry erase board?

Whoo! That is such a relief. Every time I had any thoughts whatsoever of you which is frequent I had tears in my eyes. Now the tears are of relief. Continued good thoughts huge huge hugs towards all of you and continued healing thoughts for your mom. ❤️

I am now singing my good thoughts your way. :-).

We are trying to use a whiteboard as a means of communication. We’re having moderate success. We haven’t asked her to write, although she did draw some thing for my sister, but it was pretty inconclusive. She also added a new mile stone… She shrugged, twice.

All we need is for my mom to emerge as a teenager, lol.

And I just wanted to send the most heartfelt thanks to each, and everyone of you who has been holding my hand through this journey. Words do not convey how much you have helped me get through this.
❤️❤️❤️

Shrugging? Wait for the eyeroll! All good signs!

Not your mom’s situation, but when my parents were in skilled care there was a program called Songs by Heart, where a vocalist and accompanist came in to lead a singalong. Lots of great songs. People with neurological disorders or traumatic injuries who otherwhise did not speak or respond, would sing along, maybe nudged into it when vocalist approached them or touched their hand. (one of the fellows and I were listening to some 70s rock in the dining room one day, and we joked that those would be in our own Songs by Heart program. We were about the same age.)

Jojo, thrilled for another good report!

My mothers hearing loss was profound. $30,000 worth of hearing aids later, still profound. I think sometimes staff would have trouble determining what might be mild dementia and confusing that with her just not hearing them. I could communicate with her fine - but she could read my lips. Maybe a daughter thing.

But DH had begun always carrying a legal pad and somewhat heavy felt tip to his visits. He would write her notes all afternoon and she delighted in it and in the attention. Silly things. But he could really make her laugh and she enjoyed her time with him so much. In fact, it got so when we visited, he would walk into her senior apartment first, and I'd hear an immediate clear 'Hi Axxxx!' If I'd walk in first, it would be 'Where's Axxxx!' ;)

All good signs even if you'd like recovery to be faster. It's all good. And, you are blessed. (((hugs)))

OT but I edited. A paragraph repeated itself? I did not type that twice. Thanks, Houzz....

Jojo, my heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you for keeping us updated and here’s to more good news as the days progress.

Glad to hear that your Mom is still holding her own. The communication thing can be difficult. My Dad had UTI driven confusion a couple of times which manifested in a disability to get thoughts from his brain to his mouth. We would just prompt him; "are you hungry, are you thirsty?, do you want to listen to your music?" It was hard but we could usually eventually get what was on his mind.

Such good news, she is heading in the right direction.

It's progress and good to hear. Hang in Jo, we're here for you!

There are so many ways to communicate, but music sounds like it suits her. Now, will it be classical, show tunes or rap? LOL Tell her to keep up the good work. You too.

Can you bring a keyboard, of either type? Can she sit up to type, or to play?

How about?

Or,

Such wonderful news!!

when she is physically stronger the speech can be addressed. I have aphasia it is frustrating but I went from being unable to say my own name to where most who did not know me before would not see my frequent pauses to retrive words. Speech pathology works wonders in helping brain injured people learn to rewire their pathways to communicate again. keep advocating for her and make sure they get her started on all the rehabilitation therapies needed for her continued progress. xo