My little (21 year old) brother had a stroke last week, and
I can’t put into words how I feel. I’m sad, yes, but I know with time he’ll be back to somewhat normal. It was in his thalamus, on the right side. I just miss him. He’s been in and out of sleep, which I know happens with thalamic stroke victims, as it regulates sleep. He can move his whole body though (while sleeping he moves a lot, as people do), and has been able to move his body the whole time he’s been in Columbia Pres in Manhattan. His words and state of alertness change, but with each passing day he regains more alertness. This morning, which was his 3rd day in the ICU at Columbia Presbyterian in Manhattan, he got up and was the most alert he’s been. His words were clear and normal, he was forming full sentences, using his hands (like he always does while talking, he is a new yorker, you know), he was eating by himself, and with the help of the nurse even walked to the bathroom. Eventually he fell back into his sleep, which most of the time is the half sleep, half awake state I was reading is common in these situations. His face sags a little on the left, but not too much. Even in this in between state, he very much wanted his glasses on, even when sleeping. He woke up for about 20 minutes today and wasn’t as clear or awake as this morning. I was telling him about how much our dad was eating yesterday and new frames for his glasses. He was awake and listening, but not replying, which I chalk up to being groggy, a little confused over the situation as a whole, and not being to able to properly speak or say what he wanted to. He did smile at something I said though.
They are moving him from the ICU to the stroke unit tonight, as they say he no longer needs the ICU.
My heart aches because I guess I just need a few answers from people who’ve gone through this. Were you or your loved one able to regain some sense of normalcy? Were you/your loved one stressed and confused, and did the stroke mess with your emotions, as I’ve read thalamic strokes can do? Is it good my brother is moving and speaking at times? Also, how did you/your loved one’s recovery go, how long did it take, and although I know it won’t be *quite* the same again, are you able to live a happy, fulfilling life?
There’s also the wrench of my brother having aspergers, so I imagine some of the grumpyness comes from that. Please, feel free to inbox me anything you know or have experienced.
