Libby Lehman update

[pam7040]

Thanks for the update, Pam. I think of her many times throughout each day.

[pam7040]

Ricky Tims


Libby Update - Tuesday

Libby continues to improve - slowly, but surely. She is expected to transfer soon to another hospital where her rehabilitation can begin. Each day she seems more alert and it is evident that she is making progress.

[QuilterLynn]

Amen. Going the right direction! TIRR is the absolutely BEST rehab place in the "world" ...... said by a Houston resident. :-)
Lynn

[pam7040]

Posted by Ricky Tims 17 May 2013


Libby Lehman update. Libby has been transported to a new hospital where she will begin very slow rehabilitation. I understand her first day there was tiring and so her progress was not evident. However, the general improvement continues.

The family has set up a Caring Bridge page where you can get updates directly from the family. This will be the best way for you to get your information. I will continue to report from time to time, but I urge you to visit this page - sign the guestbook and submit your email so that you can get email updates if they are sent.

God Bless Libby

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/libbylehman

[pam7040]

I haven't been posting here, as there is a Caring Bridge page, but am aware that not everyone will visit it so wanted to just post the most recent entry.

Written by Cathy Arnold, one of Libby's sisters.

'This is difficult for me to write, so I am just going to give it to you as close to the doctor's words as I can. Today in a meeting with Libby's primary Critical Care doctor, Dr. Stephen Koch, we learned that Libby has lost her center for speech, which was located on the right side of her brain (not unusual for left-handed people) where the major stroke damage occurred. This affects not only her ability to speak, but also her ability to understand what is being said to her. This is why she has little response to verbal commands - she literally does not understand what is being said. She can respond to visual things - If you smile at her she can smile back, if you demonstrate raising your right thumb she can raise her right thumb. The "intelligence" part of her brain is still intact. But he likened her situation to a computer without a keyboard or monitor. Therefore one of the main focuses of her rehab will be on speech therapy. It is possible for her left side of the brain to learn from scratch the cognitive and physical speech requirements, but it is much like a baby learning to talk. We will learn more about this when she is transferred to a Rehab hospital, hopefully as early as next week. The good news is that the swelling in her brain is way down and they removed the trach today. Ellen will give a report on her PT today, which went very well. Please pray for strength and patience.'

[pam7040]

I've been following along on the Caring Bridge also. Great program. My heart sank when I read that. Libby is a fiesty thing and full of determination. This will be a long journey, but one I believe she can do.I don't envy the road ahead for her and her family.

Clara

[jbtaz36]

I, too, have been following Libby's saga on Caring Bridge. What amazes me is that there have been over 35,000 hits on her website......many, like me, who check twice daily. She is so loved by all and I pray that she will recover. Judy in AZ

[Zarah]

It makes me feel very sad to read this. I sure hope that Libby can overcome all these troubles.

[CrazyCuban]

There is a special place in my heart for people who are unassuming and funny. Libby has a special place there. The latest news from Caring Bridge make me sad, but I'm praying for Libby to recover according to God's plan. It makes me wonder, although she has lost the ability to speak, has she lost the ability of reading comprehension, as well?

[RGold]

Pam, thank you for posting this, although the news certainly made me sad. I have been following on Caring Bridge, but hadn't seen this. I expect this will make Libby's recovery harder, but I know she is a very strong woman so I pray she will be able to recover her speech!

[idaho]

Discouraging news allround !! But will keep the positive flow going for all !!

[idaho]

Thank you for the update.

[dfrank27]

Early in the days of Libby's hospitilization, I asked Ricky Tims if it would be okay to send Libby a "Flat Diane." (If you have seen the episode of the Quilt Show where "Flat Rita" makes an appearance you will get the idea.) It doesn't take up a lot of space in a greeting card, and imagine her room covered with Flat insert your name here images from her TQS followers and admirers. I glued my image to a flat stick (like a popsicle stick only wider - found it in my first aid kit.)

[I have an image of my picture on a stick on my profile page.]



What do you think? Libby might not be able to understand language, but her sisters have been saying that she responds to images. :idea:

Diane Frank
aka Dfrank27
aka Flat Diane

Post Note: Margo has asked me to contact the family and get their permission before suggesting that they receive the images. I will do this. I can't find a way to make my post "invisible" without deleting it.

Here is the response from Libby's sister, Cathy.

I think it sounds adorable! Go for it! Thanks for such a clever idea,
Sincerely,
Cathy

Margo - please leave your reply to my message intact. That way I can continue to see your response as well!

[Margo]

Today's post:


A day of reflection

Written 1 hour ago by Cathy Arnold

Libby is resting peacefully today, and she squeezed Lester's hand twice this morning. There is no PT or doctor's visits on the weekends, so it is a time for recharging. We are all still a little shell shocked from the meeting yesterday with Libby's main doctor. You try so hard to get more information from the doctors and specialists, but when you start to get their conclusions and observations, it can be very sobering. My sweet sister Ellen's prayer made me weep because it is so very, very comforting, and it reminded me that we are not in charge. Thank you, Ellen.

Cathy Arnold
2220 Stanmore Dr.
Houston, Texas 77019
mailto:caarnold1@gmail.com

I have included my address and e-mail so you can direct specific questions to me, or you can include your e-mail on your Caring Bridge message and I will try to respond individually. We feel bad that we cannot answer your many questions on Caring Bridge. Often times we do not know the answers. Does Libby recognize individuals? We certainly hope so. How about Libby's memory? At this point we have no idea about her short or long-term memory. Does she recognize the written word? According to the doctors, no. She has no language ability. Your messages mean the world to us. Often at night when I cannot sleep, I read them over and over. You are so supportive and kind. We send a giant electronic hug to each of you.

[snowplow3840]

As a speech pathologist by profession, I understand how devestating this news is to the family and to all of the extended friends out here. It has been a long time since I have been active in the profession (I am getting OLD!!!!! LOL) and did not work actively as a speech pathologist for many years. That being said I have seen some marvelous and unexpected recoveries from what my scientific and professional brain would have said were impossible situations. (For example a women who spoke to me clearly nearly five years after the drs. and more than one speech professional -including me- had determined recovery was totally out of the question) Libby's family are doing all the right things - talking to her, reading to her, playing music, etc. God Bless Them and pray that they can keep up the routine. The Caregiver's life is really difficult. Sometimes worse than the patient. So when sending out your prayers and good wishes for Libby, keep Lester, Les, the sisters and their extended caregiving family in that prayer. They need more strength than most of us who have not been there ever know. (I know, my wonderful dh went through many months of caregiving when I was near death and it was not easy on him). So keep Libby and her whole family in your prayers and believe that miracles can happen. My prayer is for a Miracle for Libby and her family. I love that spunky and funny woman and would hate to not have her in my quilting life. Hugs, Ann God is Good, All the Time, All the Time, God is Good.