A new month, a new day, another minute has begun
This post was originally published on Corrina’s Caringbridge site:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corrina
There have been so many times these past two weeks when I have been totally speechless and cannot come up with the words to describe my feelings on this major turn of events. I haven't spent time with the big question "Why?" post diagnosis but moreso my focus has been on how best to care for and support Corrina to get her back to her shining self.
What I see exhibited in Corrina every single day is her deep reservoir of inner strength and how she still finds a way to smile from the inside out. I'm the lucky one who was blessed with giving birth to such an amazing woman. I had no idea that this little one would grow into such an incredibly fierce and brilliant woman. She has given me so many gifts but it's the gift of her time and presence that has made a permanent tattoo on my heart and soul.
Corrina during Occupational Therapy at Mt. Sinai, two-weeks before her bloodclot would require another trip to the ER and another hospital admission.
Corrina is growing stronger every day post surgery November 20 at St. Francis. I credit Dr. Chozik and his team in keeping Corrina alive so we can witness her progress towards the strong warrior she was and will be. Late Tuesday, November 27, Corrina was transferred to Mt. Sinai Acute Rehabilitation Hospital which has jump started her body into doing its job. She has intensive PT, OT and ST daily with a day off once a week. It's incredible to watch how quickly her body responds to these therapy modalities.
Corrina's dad arrived Monday, November 19 when it was becoming evident that surgery would most likely be the only recourse to clear the infection and release the pressure on her brain. I was able to step away from the hospital overnights and David R. took over the loving watch of his daughter. It was a blessing to have him by her bedside for the next week. Corrina had hospital food for breakfast and lunch but there was always something prepared from home, a friend, or picked up from a local restaurant for dinner to make the evening special. One night, David I. taught me how to play charades which made Corrina laugh a lot. [It's hard for me to not use words when playing charades ;-0]
Now that Corrina's at Mt. Sinai in a private room, I've been spending the evenings with her. David I. is here as much as he can be when his work, Grover & Mazzy commitments allow him some free time to slip away. He's Corrina's beacon of light that is always on.
There's a calmness and deep love that I see in the both of them when they are in the same space together or knowing that he's on his way for a visit. I thank a higher being every single day for David I., the twins, and his Mom and Emily for all that they do for Corrina and me every day.
In prior journals, I let you know my hospital sleeping arrangements. . . this a new one. The first 2 nights at Mt. Sinai in Corrina's private room I was allowed to sleep in the extra patient bed which is not usually permitted but the nursing manager on Corrina's small wing said it would be ok since I was there to support Corrina's wellness. On day 3 there was going to be a room change due to low census. Corrina was moved into another private room but the extra patient bed was removed and I was given a 1950s or maybe 1940s style vinyl covered very, very stiff recliner. [I know my 6 lb Scottish fold cat, Lola, would stay as far away from this chair as possible.] I knew that there was no way possible I could watch even a 60 minute Romanoff's episode in that chair let alone try to figure out a way to sleep in that contraption. I contacted my friend, Jeannine, who had her husband drop off a twin aero bed which I got permission to put on the floor in the same space the patient hospital bed used to occupy. The aero bed came without any instructions and being somewhat mechanically challenged couldn't figure out how to keep the mattress inflated. After calls to two men - Bill, Jeannine's husband, and Steve, my husband, who was on a quick golf break to FL for a few days - I ended up googling how to get this bed to stay inflated. Google had way too much information and not anything for the bed that I would hopefully be sleeping on that night. I troubleshooted it myself and now have a rather comfy elevated spot to sleep on the floor.
NOW ON TO THE BEST NEWS OF THE DAY. . . .
The Mt. Sinai Rehab team reviewed Corrina's assessment reports, have set up a treatment plan with a discharge date of Friday, December 7. She will be returning home to David!!!