During the middle of the night of April 20, Judy woke me up saying that she needed a ride to the hospital. I was unable to drive at that point because I failed an eye exam on November 28th, so I called my son, and he came downstairs and drove us to the Westview Health Centre in nearby Stony Plain.
Judy was quickly admitted to the hospital and they started running tests. Their biggest concern was the chest pains she was experiencing. Among the tests were three electro-cardiograms. They said that she was experiencing a heart attack. They treated her for this, and transferred her by ambulance to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton.
The next day, during our family's Easter dinner, I had a phone call from a doctor at the Royal Alex. I was told that Judy had suffered a stroke and had lost the use of her right arm and leg. I travelled with Laurel's family to visit her, and Tananda's family arrived right behind us. We had to put on hospital gowns, and gloves as well as masks. We were an interesting picture, with 11 of us ranging in age from 4 to 83. Judy was in good spirits and we were able to have a family prayer and a priesthood blessing. As we were leaving the hospital we met Andrew's family who were arriving, and as they were leaving, Blaine arrived. So Judy had lots of company that day.
Over the following weeks, I got rides from various family members, for which I was really thankful. After my last cataract surgery and new glasses, I was able to drive. But Judy asked me to not drive to the Royal Alex, where traffic is a nightmare and parking is sometimes impossible to find. I recognized her wisdom in making this request. After 5 months of not driving, my reflexes and observation skills were rusty.
Judy was transferred to Stroke Unit 53, and within the stroke unit she has been placed in 3 different rooms. As they were considering transferring her to a Continuing Care Hospital, she developed a severe infection, which they were able to clear up. Again they are considering transferring her. I hope they transfer her somewhere that I can drive to.
And I hope it will be somewhere with good physiotherapy. Judy can move her right foot and the fingers and thumb of her right hand a little bit. With further physiotherapy she may be able to get out of bed and do things with her right hand and arm.
As for me, cooking is a new experience after 57 years of Judy doing all the cooking. I am learning, and I frequently have questions for Judy about using household appliances or preparing food. I have tried to follow Judy's schedule for house-keeping, laundry, and so forth. I even help out in the garden from time to time.
I miss my wonderful wife. She has been the light of my life. I admire her ability to cope with being immobilized. I would find it torturous within a day or two. I am sure that the prayers of family and friends have been a source of great help and comfort to her. She is a woman of great faith.
I feel much older in an empty home, but I know that families can be forever. Christ has shown us that death is not the end.
