Update

But can you tell me - I'm sorry to ask this - why does he look like he has had a stroke?

A friend asked this question and it certainly is a valid one. I am not really sure of the answer but I can dance around it.


When Gregory ended up in the hospital, close to the beginning of his time at Lieberman, the experience took a large toll on his mobility and general functioning. He fell and gashed open his head. With a knee jerk from that pain, after falling, he to hit his forehead on the bottom of the bed leaving a huge bruise.While the X-Rays showed no broken bones, I think that Gregory did some damage to his back and neck which have always been sensitive areas for him since we met some 39 years ago.

Next he had a major Grand Mal Siezure that put him into the hospital for four days. Research says, I did not know this, that approximately 28% of people with Alzheimer's begin to get seizures at the end stages of the disease.

Gregory began Dilantin to avoid future seizures and the medication took two or more weeks to balance itself, the strength of it causing him to be weak, drowsy, and basically "out of it."

On the last day of the second hospital stay he came down with the flu. It was a mild case because he had had the vaccine in October but non-the-less the effect of the medication for his H1N1 flu was like being hit by a truck.

Over the next weeks at Lieberman Gregory got stronger and stronger and felt better and better but one must be reminded that he is in the last stages of Alzheimer's. The progress of the disease over the last year, and then between Christmas and his moving to Lieberman have been exponential.

At this point, due to the above and the progression of the disease, he is not unable to walk so lives in his wheel chair. He doesn't seem to mind. He is progressing a little with Physical Therapy and over the last four days has been peddling a bicycle from his wheel chair for fifteen minutes at a time and has been walking with the help of two therapists.

Progress may be progress, but with Gregory at this stage, progress needs to be redefined. It is not the kind of progress that you or I might experience after a fall or an illness.

Part of the problem now that he is regaining strength, is that his cognition continues to decline so while he may be strong enough to walk, he no longer knows how to do so cognitively. I.E. the brain sends out the "walking signals" but he legs do not know how to "read them."

The same has happened with his fingers, hands, and arms. The strength is there at times but the signals get scrambled. Due to this disconnect between the cognition and the muscles, he has developed what are called "Intentional Tremors."

When the brain sends a signal to his hand to pick up the fork, the signal is just interpreted in a jerk of the muscles in his arm and hand. The ability to stab or cut or scoop a piece of meat with the fork, let alone get it to his mouth no longer works well.

So this is the long and short of it. He does look at times like he is "out of it" in his awareness and responsiveness. Where he is, who knows. But he does come back.

Also his coordination of muscles due to lack of use, and cognitive disconnect causes him to look like he had a stroke and most of the time his neck needs to rest on a pillow because he cannot hold it up.

So there is your relative answer. Hope this helps you see Gregory in a real light which is also a loving light that continues to bless both Gregory and me.

Grand Mal Seizure

Today at 8:15 am I received a call from the Lieberman Center telling me that Gregory had a seizure and was sent to ER. I quickly got dressed and went to the Skokie Hospital's ER. Luckily the hospital is just across the parking lot from Lieberman and both are only 10 minutes from the condo.

Gregory was resting comfortably. He was not upset or frightened. His usual pattern is to remain calm (as I have learned to do.) He was happy to see me and between various tests I  held his hand, talked about things, and sang to him. He dozed on and off which is usual after a seizure.

The seizure was a Grand Mal which is the larger one when compared to a Petite Mal. The Petite Mal sometimes involves a temporary staring off and often goes unnoticed. The Grand Mal is the one with passing out, convulsing, shaking, eyes rolling back, and the danger of biting one's tongue.

Luckily for Gregory, he was in a sturdy chair at the breakfast table and when he began the seizure the head nurse was in the dining room. The Lieberman staff acted quickly and efficiently and I am grateful for that.

The various tests that Gregory had did not show anything unusual. He will be in the hospital overnight for observation. I now understand that in the later stages of Alzheimer's approximately 25% of people experience seizure activity. The doctor has prescribed a low dose of anti-seizure medication to help make sure this does not happen again.

For now all is well until the next dip in this roller coaster ride. G is doing well. I am doing well and again the word grateful, I am grateful that I am not having to do all this alone like I have done for the last ten years. I have a huge group of people supporting me and Gregory and it feels good.