Believe in yourself and all that you are.
Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.
Our sweet cherished Alysha Rose Smith is recovering from a post surgical complication that put her into cardiac arrest and into a coma for 7 days. She emerged from the coma with severe brain damage. This website was created to update friends and family of Alysha's progress along the road to recovery. Please join us as we support Alysha on her journey. (For earlier details, like the history behind this medical nightmare scroll to the bottom of the blog and click "older posts.")
December 10/12
A discharge date is given.
Accompanied by Jeanne (Nana), Lisa returned Alysha to the rehab center this morning. There was a multidisciplinary meeting about Alysha that the family was invited to. The discharge date they are planning on and working toward is January 25th 2013. Lisa was so excited to hear this news. They will continue working with Alysha beyond this point as an outpatient, with 2 therapy sessions each week in Toronto. At the family's urging, the Rehab institute will look into suitable therapies a little closer to home such as with RVH.
December 8th and 9th.
Home for the weekend.
After a hard week of therapy, Alysha was rewarded with another trip home for the weekend. This is expected to be the norm now. Daily therapy sessions from Monday morning until Saturday morning and home on the weekend.
Lisa continues to make food for Alysha, which Alysha clearly appreciates as she has no problem finishing servings of her mother's home cooking. Lisa still spends between 5 and 7 days a week in Toronto with Alysha during the day, goes home and makes food for Alysha for the upcoming meals. Lisa brings her meals down to the rehab center all portioned up and freezes them for use when Alysha finds the Center's food unappealing.
As they were driving home on Saturday, Lisa asked Alysha if she would like anything special as a treat. Alysha announced that she wanted a big mac and fries. So they bought a big mac meal and took it home to eat. They did not pop it in the blender as would be recommended by the staff at the rehab center. Instead, Lisa removed the top bun and offered the rest of the burger to Alysha who took little bites, defined by where Lisa placed her fingers on the burger. If Alysha were to take a large bite she would bite down on her mother's fingers. There is often laughter shared among this mother daughter diad, but Lisa tries to limit Alysha's laughter while she is eating. It takes Alysha a fair bit of concentration to organize the food in her mouth for coordinated chewing and swallowing. Laughter during meal times increases the risk of choking.
December 6/12
No sticker for therapy today.
Alysha had a pretty good day today under the care of her father at the Rehab Center. She ate her meals which consisted of cinnamon apple crunch and milk for breakfast, mashed potato and sweet and sour pork with mixed veggies for lunch and minced chicken, mashed potatos and oriental veggies for dinner.
The promise of a sticker and a session with the therapy dog wasn't enough incentive for Alysha to complete her walking exercise without complaining today. She did walk the planned distance for the day, but she was upset and complained for the last 30 feet of it. Each day the therapists continue to add distance to Alysha's walking exercises. It is such hard work learning to walk again and building up her endurance. See video from December 1/12.
Memere visited today.
December 4/12
A discharge date is given.
Accompanied by Jeanne (Nana), Lisa returned Alysha to the rehab center this morning. There was a multidisciplinary meeting about Alysha that the family was invited to. The discharge date they are planning on and working toward is January 25th 2013. Lisa was so excited to hear this news. They will continue working with Alysha beyond this point as an outpatient, with 2 therapy sessions each week in Toronto. At the family's urging, the Rehab institute will look into suitable therapies a little closer to home such as with RVH.
December 8th and 9th.
Home for the weekend.
After a hard week of therapy, Alysha was rewarded with another trip home for the weekend. This is expected to be the norm now. Daily therapy sessions from Monday morning until Saturday morning and home on the weekend.
Lisa continues to make food for Alysha, which Alysha clearly appreciates as she has no problem finishing servings of her mother's home cooking. Lisa still spends between 5 and 7 days a week in Toronto with Alysha during the day, goes home and makes food for Alysha for the upcoming meals. Lisa brings her meals down to the rehab center all portioned up and freezes them for use when Alysha finds the Center's food unappealing.
As they were driving home on Saturday, Lisa asked Alysha if she would like anything special as a treat. Alysha announced that she wanted a big mac and fries. So they bought a big mac meal and took it home to eat. They did not pop it in the blender as would be recommended by the staff at the rehab center. Instead, Lisa removed the top bun and offered the rest of the burger to Alysha who took little bites, defined by where Lisa placed her fingers on the burger. If Alysha were to take a large bite she would bite down on her mother's fingers. There is often laughter shared among this mother daughter diad, but Lisa tries to limit Alysha's laughter while she is eating. It takes Alysha a fair bit of concentration to organize the food in her mouth for coordinated chewing and swallowing. Laughter during meal times increases the risk of choking.
December 6/12
No sticker for therapy today.
Alysha had a pretty good day today under the care of her father at the Rehab Center. She ate her meals which consisted of cinnamon apple crunch and milk for breakfast, mashed potato and sweet and sour pork with mixed veggies for lunch and minced chicken, mashed potatos and oriental veggies for dinner.
The promise of a sticker and a session with the therapy dog wasn't enough incentive for Alysha to complete her walking exercise without complaining today. She did walk the planned distance for the day, but she was upset and complained for the last 30 feet of it. Each day the therapists continue to add distance to Alysha's walking exercises. It is such hard work learning to walk again and building up her endurance. See video from December 1/12.
Memere visited today.
December 4/12
Alysha refuses to replace the feeding tube.
The doctor came in today and told Lisa that the dietician recommended the feeding tube be re-inserted based on Alysha's food consumption records from last week. Alysha declined this intervention. Since last week Alysha has been making good efforts to eat more food and drink more water. Today she drank one 500 ml bottle of water and 250 ml of milk along with 225 mls of Ensure. The meals that they are sending up for Alysha are half servings. Today Alysha told Lisa she was finished after eating 3/4 of the food served for her. Lisa explained that if Alysha wants to keep the feeding tube out, she needs to eat all of her food. Alysha proceeded to finish all the food presented to her. To boost her calorie intake and give her a reward Alysha also ate 200 calories of cheesies as a treat. The dietician wants Alysha to consume 1200 - 1500 calories a day and drink 2000ml of liquid.
Watch the movie below of Alysha speaking. Remember that it was only a few weeks ago that Alysha wasn't using any words and her main communication was nodding yes and no.
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