Summer Parkingham here.

Thought I'd write an update on my little sister Ramey Melissa's recovery from her stroke of about a month ago.

It hardly seems possible that it's been this long; it seems like only yesterday it happened.  I still can't believe how far she's come since all of this occurred.

When I'd found her lying limp and unconscious on the floor, I honestly thought she was dead.  It was a small relief when the paramedics informed us that she was breathing; however, she was still in dire need of medical attention; they'd feel better if she was in a hospital setting.

They rushed her to the hospital via ambulance; this was when, after tests and stuff, we were informed that Ramey had a stroke.  It was a bad one; however, they didn't know how much damage there was until she would wake up. 

That is, if she would wake up; doctors had no guarantees whether this would happen.

It was a very bad time for us.  We spent time in prayer, asking God to bring my sister back.  I somehow felt that all of this was my fault:  before I'd found Ramey collapsed on the floor, we'd been arguing, and I told her I wish she was dead;  I was that mad at her.

When she got sick, it was the worst feeling in the world.  I felt I'd caused the stroke.  Mom and dad both tried to reassure me that it wasn't my fault; however, it didn't do any good:  I still continued to blame myself.

Well, Ramey did wake up.  She could see, hear, even move one side; she just couldn't talk, and one side was paralyzed.  In time, therapy would (hopefully) bring the speech or movement back; it would just take time, and we had to be patient, the doctors and nurses kept telling us.

She finally got better to where she was released from the hospital; she did need more therapy (speech, physical, occupational), so they arranged for her to go to a rehabilitation hospital, where they would work with her.

That was two weeks ago. 

She's now sitting up in a wheelchair, even taking a few steps under her own power.  She does use a quad cane and wears a brace on her affected leg, but she is walking a little.  It's been a huge answer to prayer.  She's also talking a little, but does get confused easily; we have to keep helping her by orienteering her with familiar people, places, things. 

It's a struggle, but with God's help, we feel that she will come back to the old Ramey we've always known and loved.

Ramey seems quieter somehow since her stroke; it seems things bother her more.  We were told that this would happen; we would just have to support her in all of her therapy or daily living and let her know that we love her.  The stroke has affected her personality.  It's weird, but it has.

We don't know what the road ahead will bring, but when she does get to come home from the rehab hospital, she will need to have a lot of help with many things.  We will also have to make our home accessable for her; she will probably be using the wheelchair for a while longer; she's not quite ready to do a lot of walking just yet. 

She's close, but not quite there, according to the therapists or her doctors.

Well, I am going to go to bed; have school tomorrow.  I will write in here again, probably in a few weeks, maybe sooner if something majorlicious happens.  We still can use all the prayers we can get, and I wouldn't mind a miracle about now, to where she wouldn't even need that darn wheelchair, leg brace, or stupid quad cane!

Take care and may God bless you!

~Love, your friend, Summer Parkingham.  :)