I want to share a more detailed update about my mom’s journey over the past few months, from the moment she left for a typical doctors appointment, to when she had to be rushed to the hospital, to her current stay at the rehab facility. 

So much has happened during this time that it would take a book to detail everything. But as you read on, I hope you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what has transpired.

At the beginning of October, my mom went for a routine appointment to prepare for an upcoming nephrology check-up. As soon as the nurses began the tests, they realized she needed to go to the ER because her only kidney was failing. I won’t go into the details of her kidney’s history... it’s a miraculous story in itself... but suffice it to say, my mom is truly blessed. Ask me sometime; it’s a tale that might restore your faith in miracles.

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, what began as an obviously scary situation, our thoughts were my mom would need to start dialysis and statistically the mortality rate for this scenario was quite low. However, my moms rush to the hospital, quickly turned into a nightmare. Within two days, she underwent surgery for a temporary dialysis port and started dialysis the following day. That was the last time we saw her as her “normal” self. The dialysis immediately affected her strength and balance, but we believed she just needed time to adjust to the treatment.

That same week, she developed a UTI, which wasn’t unexpected given her circumstances. However, the hospital staff struggled to control the infection. Days turned into weeks, and the infection not only spread to her bladder but also morphed into a fungal infection. The stronger antibiotics prescribed reacted harshly with her other medications. By the second week, she started showing signs of confusion and delirium... we later learned UTI's can cause a condition called “kidney brain.” Watching her rapid mental and physical decline was heartbreaking.

To make matters worse, the hospital staff failed to provide adequate care. Physical therapists stopped visiting once she could no longer stand, and the nurses rarely repositioned her as required. Despite these challenges, her condition eventually stabilized metabolically, and plans were made to transfer her to a rehab facility.

Just before discharge, her third attending doctor wisely ran additional tests due to her cognitive state. The results revealed that she had suffered three or four minor strokes over the previous weeks. This discovery delayed her discharge, and further tests were conducted to find the source of the strokes. Before she could be moved to the neurology floor, she suffered another, more serious stroke, which significantly impacted her motor skills and ability to swallow.

At that point, my siblings and I were devastated. We began discussions about transitioning her to hospice care. However, once she was moved to the neurology floor, a new doctor reviewed her case. This doctor impressed all of us with her expertise and decisive actions, including discontinuing several unnecessary medications that had likely contributed to my mom’s strokes and confusion.

We decided to give my mom a few days before making any final decisions about hospice. Miraculously, by the third day, she began showing signs of improvement. Each day since, she has made steady progress in her recovery. We are deeply grateful to that neurologist, who truly came to her rescue.

Now, my mom is at a rehab facility working with physical, occupational, and speech therapists. While she has mostly good days, occasional setbacks are part of the process. As long as she continues to progress overall, we remain hopeful that she will regain her ability to walk.

This experience has been a profoundly challenging time for our family. My brother and I have been struggling to return to our careers after leaving them to move back home to Georgia, and my sisters are juggling the demands of raising children. But those who know us understand that we are a resilient family. We don’t ask for help lightly, but these circumstances are truly extraordinary.

On a brighter note, We remind ourselves daily how far my mom has come. Just over a month ago, we were discussing hospice as her only option. Now, she’s fighting her way back to health.

The entire Houston family is immensely grateful for your support... whether it’s financial help, encouraging messages, assistance with the home modifications she’ll need, or simply keeping us in your thoughts.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. Please feel free to reach out anytime.

With gratitude and love,

The Houston's