Sherri Jackson's Blog: Taking Life a Little Slower
by Sherri Jackson
CBS 42 News
2008-03-04 13:33:16.0
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There comes a point in our lives where the stuff we read about becomes a reality. It happened in my family this weekend. My father’s wife had a stroke. Suddenly and unexpectedly as all strokes happen. Without warning, this smiling happy person went from a jubilant existence to one threatened by the act of swallowing water. I learned that’s a common problem with stroke patients. Water can go down the wrong pipe if they can’t think, swallow, and shut off the airway all at the same time. Hard to imagine that all that takes place as we swallow. Our brains have been programmed to make that happen with ease.
But all that has been interrupted for my stepmother. Her swallowing mechanics are off, and those swallows of water come down faster than she’s able to think about how to swallow for now. That can lead to pneumonia, because that water will go down into the lungs and build up if there is nothing done to prevent it. The Coordinator of Stroke and Rehabilitation Team explained that in great detail to me an my family while we gathered in my stepmother’s room in the ICU at the hospital.
I was amazed at how the nurses and therapists worked with her to begin what is sure to be a long road to recovery. They are able to thicken the liquids that she swallows and help them go down slower. I guess when something like this happens in your family you’re tempted to take life a little slower.
After Thursday’s interruption of life as we know it I can see the benefit of taking it slower. There’s a reality that comes with the territory. I spent more time with my dad on my visit to St. Louis than I have in a long time. Sitting and talking with him about what’s next. We’re figuring it out slowly. However the reality is that this is what comes next: Spending more time together as a family and learning that quality time together is not an interruption of life.
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