Sent:  Mon 10/20/03 7:33 PM

Subject:  Talk with Dr. V.

Hi Sibs,

Dad's hanging close to me tonight so I might not have the opportunity to talk freely on the phone tonight.

Dr. V called me at home this afternoon.  He said he was "absolutely shocked and devestated"  today when he heard what had happened to Mom.  He said he fully expected her to be at home for a while when he returned from vacation.

He reviewed her chart, and said that in his opinion her stroke was "big" and we should start exploring options for assisted living in the best case, or nursing home care in the worst.  He also said that if none of us lives here, then we should move them somewhere close to one of us.

He said it is hard to predict what functions she will recover.  He has seen people with left-sided strokes be only affected in their motor skills, with their personality and intellect intact (Aunt Jay), but with others their personality changed.  It is only when she is more awake and the rehab is further along that we will be able to know.

He also said he and his staff will help us get her into a private rehab center.  He said JK was an excellent choice, and if it were himself, he would go there.  He said two retired physician friends of his have bought into the cottages there, so that when they need the extra care, it is there for themselves.

Oh, yes, so first thing this morning, I looked up the other 3 places in the area, and even the nice looking one on Enterprise had some serious issues, so I did not even go to look at it.  JK had a much better rate or walking and doing as well as or better than before than the other places too.  So I told the case worker we had decided on JK, and the JK nurse, came to see us at the hospital within 2 hours.  She will evaluate Mom and make a decision as to if their facility is appropriate  for her needs.  Mom was out like a light, and still in ICU at that time, so she said she will come back at a future date to do the evaluation.

He said our idea is good to move them out to Houston, and he recommends beginning now to investigate assisted living places, especially where Dad can be with her.  He agreed that Dad would do very poorly separated from her.  He said that after JK, then we might have to transport them in a van, because she might not be in acceptable physical shape to travel on an airline.

So that's all I know at this time.  I'll try calling you and tell you at least to read this email.

Love and hugs, Anna