This is Charles. Harriet doesn't use this, so I thought I'd add an update.
Six months have passed since her heart event: cardiac arrest, brain dead for 3 minutes, damage to short term memory. Most of recovery happens during this period, we were told.
Unfortunately there hasn't been much memory improvement. However, and more importantly, Harriet HAS IMPROVED in day-to-day functioning in the world. And she's very good at convincing folks that she's doing better.
But the reality is this: an example. We're doing taxes. Yesterday she went through her records and calculated sales and expenses as an artist. This morning she did not remember doing this, refused to accept her written work supporting this, and insisted on doing it again. I asked her to write a note to read tomorrow, that she did this and doesn't have to repeat it yet again. We'll see.
In conversation she will repeat herself endlessly. Her short term memory appears to have a limit of 10 to 15 minutes.
So while I was hoping for more improvement, the blessing is that she is even alive. Pam found an article that said the survival rate for a cardiac arrest out of a hospital is 8%. EIGHT PERCENT! So what's a little memory loss.
I bought her a red ball cap with 8% on it ... but she doesn't seem ready to wear it yet.
After taxes, we have to get the house ready to sell. No easy task, believe me. I think of it as the transition from hell.
That's the update.
Six months have passed since her heart event: cardiac arrest, brain dead for 3 minutes, damage to short term memory. Most of recovery happens during this period, we were told.
Unfortunately there hasn't been much memory improvement. However, and more importantly, Harriet HAS IMPROVED in day-to-day functioning in the world. And she's very good at convincing folks that she's doing better.
But the reality is this: an example. We're doing taxes. Yesterday she went through her records and calculated sales and expenses as an artist. This morning she did not remember doing this, refused to accept her written work supporting this, and insisted on doing it again. I asked her to write a note to read tomorrow, that she did this and doesn't have to repeat it yet again. We'll see.
In conversation she will repeat herself endlessly. Her short term memory appears to have a limit of 10 to 15 minutes.
So while I was hoping for more improvement, the blessing is that she is even alive. Pam found an article that said the survival rate for a cardiac arrest out of a hospital is 8%. EIGHT PERCENT! So what's a little memory loss.
I bought her a red ball cap with 8% on it ... but she doesn't seem ready to wear it yet.
After taxes, we have to get the house ready to sell. No easy task, believe me. I think of it as the transition from hell.
That's the update.
posted from Bloggeroid
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