Hemorrhagic Stroke and recovery!

[Jazmin2177]

My father had a major stroke Sept. 30, 2012. Luckily, we were home with him and able to take him to the hospital immediately. He was given a medicine TPA stating that most people recover almost immediately with it but 6% of the people that take this medication may have a dangerous side effect and of course my father did!!! He was rushed in a helicopter to a specialty hospital for Neurosurgery. He had brain surgery and they removed the right front flap of skull so his brain  can heal because it was very swollen. On top of his stroke my father has respiratory and heart conditions.  He has a feeding tube and trachea, EVEN THOUGH he is breathing on his own and all of his vitals signs are doing well thank God. My dad is very alert, HE MOVES HIS RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BODY BUT LEFT SIDE AS OF NOW NO MOVEMENT and opens his eyes and the stare is not a blank stare but he cannot speak yet however there are days that he does try to say things and we read his lips, but there are days he just does NOT want to respond to any commands and that is so hard because my family and I do not know what to expect!! WE FEEL SO LOST AND THE DOCTORS DO NOT GIVE US ANY REAL DEFINITE ANSWERS. HE IS JUST THERE STARING BUT NOTHING ELSE! HAS ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE ANY ANSWERS? :'(

[Jazmin2177]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE! THIS IS THE HARDEST SITUATION THAT MY FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH. MY BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT NOW IS, MY FATHER JUST STAYING THIS WAY. ALTHOUGH NO MATTER THE OUTCOME MY FAMILY AND I ARE READY TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. IT IS JUST VERY SAD TO SEE AN ACTIVE MAN HAVE TO DEPEND ON EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF!
I WILL JOIN YOUR PAGE AND YES I AM A CHRISTIAN, I HAVE SO MUCH FAITH THAT MY FATHER WILL RETURN TO BEING HIMSELF, GOD WILLING!  I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PEACE AND BLESSINGS DURING THIS TIME! GOD BLESS!

[cathee37]

Hi Jazmin, I understand where you're coming from as my mom had a brain aneurysm in 1994 and a hemorrhagic stroke on October 12th this year.  She had a rebleed last weekend so has now had 3 brain surgeries and she is semi-conscious.  When it comes to the brain, it seems that it is always a case-by-case basis and there are so many unknowns.  I literally just bought this book http://www.mystrokeofinsight.com/ this morning and already, a lot is starting to make sense.  My mom has been responding to most neuro tests, except a few times with male voices, and the author of that book explained that she ignored medical professionals who did not seem to care about her because they zapped her of her energy.  Also, if your dad is being woken up constantly, he might just be tired.  If you haven't already, you could ask if they could coordinate the respiratory therapist visits, neuro tests, labs, etc. a little better so he gets at least 1-2 hours of straight sleep.  Like your dad, my mom has no movement on the left but does thumbs up, 2 fingers up, and wiggles her toes on the right for most of the neuro tests.  I set up this page to keep family and friends updated and to keep a daily log of her recovery http://www.****.com/prayersformamacelia.  Even if you aren't a religious person, I hope you find the updates there helpful in that some of my mom's experiences might be similar to your dad's.  The best advice I have received from others whose parents had strokes and recovered is to hold your loved one's hand and keep talking to them.  I wish you, your dad, and family all the best.