stroke recovery question...

[hahulahoop]

My father, at the age of 65, went from COMPLETLY independant...to bordering at catatonic...

he had a stroke 5/8...had complete loss of expressive language, and mild loss of receptive language...his major problem was in his mouth/tonge and throat...he was unable to swallow, talk clearly etc...but he was making improvments everyday...talking more, begining to try and eat etc...

then 5 days ago (5/21) he had another stroke...this one was a "mini stroke."  his inital stroke was a clot, and this one was a bleed in the same area...

he lost ALL progress he made, and has slipped into a world that appears to be bordering on cataonia...he appears to have NO emotions...has only about 3 words...(yes, no and okay) and even sometimes gets those wrong...

he isn't eating, and is sleeping 23 hours a day, falls asleep during therapies,  and now has right side weakness in his body whereas before he had VERY minimal motor disruption...

i feel like his "body" is still here...but he is not...he has lost 80lbs in 3 weeks (he was 6'3" and 320lbs...so its not like he's withered away to nothing..but this is NOT healthy)...

he is still in the hospital..

anyhow...

besides my grieving...

has anyone every seen anyone "recover" from this enought to be able to go home...i don't expect a full recovery..at this point i think i will be amazed if he survives and lives...let alone is able to function independantly like before...

but NO one will answer my question on what is the likelihood of getting "better"?  IF he lives will he ever be able to go home with my mother, or will we have to place him in a nursing home?  will he regain his ability to at least communicate his needs?  

I don't know what to "expect"...i am "preparing" for his death...and at the very least grieving the loss of my happy independant father...i am going to see him tomorrow and taking my 2 small children to say "goodbye"...i don't know if i should "hope" that he gets better...or prepare for his death?"

i love him...

help me please...

i need stories and advice...i'm only 32 and have a 3 and 5 year old who were VERY close to my father as he babysat then 3 x per week for the past 5 years...

i am greiving and miserable...

please help...

heather

[Plumeria5]

I am sorry about your dad. My mom had a stroke 9 days ago. She sleeps almost all the time and is unable to move anything except her left hand. She also was very active even at 89 years old. I am far away and so am planning a trip soon to be with her. The only solace I can give is that other stroke victims say that the sleep is very peaceful and they were in no pain. The waiting is so hard. Here is a link to another stroke forum.  Hang in there. http://www.************.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=119

[Plumeria5]

Sorry that link doesn't work. Google:  Health Boards and look under stroke.