Grandma Noanie and Grandpa John Updates...

We got an e-mail from my dad (Grandpa John) the other day that said...

"After finding Joann's controllers did not register a reading on the checking device yesterday, I called Cleveland Clinic. They are able to see her at 3:pm on Thurs. so we will be there.
This morning she took another spill in the kitchen, no damage, but I notice she is very unstable and wobbly.

Her controllers should show a light, either yellow or green, to indicate the battery condition, and there no light at all.
Will let all know the outcome."

For those of you who read my blog and are not familiar with my mom's disease, I'll explain.

My Mother has Parkinson's Disease and was diagnosed back when she was 40 years old. She has lived with (and in the most recent years suffered with) this disease for over 30 years now.

Five years ago we supported her on a decision to have DBS surgery (Deep Brain Stimulators) placed in her brain to help control the communication that needs to take place for a body to function. The surgery didn't exactly go as planned. They punctured a left ventricle and blood got into that ventricale and she had some brain damage that lasted for about 90 days. She couldn't communicate with us very well and spent a good bit of time in ICU recovering. It was quite an unexpected journey for all of us.
When she agreed to have the surgery she knew that she would have to have the batteries replaced in about 5 years. So, here we are at the five year mark.

The update from the appointment at Cleveland Clinic is this... My mom will have surgery this coming Friday morning (June 6th @ 6:30am) to replace the batteries in both sides of her chest. They will also repair a broken wire in her head too. They evidently do this all as outpatient surgery. My Aunt Sharon will be taking my parents to Cleveland Clinic Friday morning and staying with them to make sure they get home safely.

The escort by my Aunt Sharon is due in part to the fact that my dad has to have surgery on Thurs, June 5th, the day before my mom's surgery. My dad is having eyelid lift surgery to open his field of vision. This is also outpatient and a very simple surgery that he should recover from quickly.



My parents have plans to visit Aunt Jude in Portland, Oregon on June 12 for about 7 days. They will be all mended up and ready for a fun, always scenic Portland! Aunt Jude is always so good at making a Portland visit a memorable one. She knows the right views and provides the finest accomodations.

So for those of you who are willing, please keep my parents in your prayers and I'll update you when I know all went well as we expect it will!