It has been one year.  One year since Arla woke feeling ill and was admitted to Lutheran Hospital.  It was a Sunday morning.  She was having a mild heart attack.  The next morning, she suffered the massive left brain stroke.

If you are catching up on the blog or reading for the first time, I will answer your first question.  How is Arla?  She is really doing well.  Her health is stable (blood pressure…the best it has been in years, her heart is great, she eats well).  The stroke effects are long term.  She has no use of her right arm and virtually no speech.  Her memory is intact; she knows people and understands what is happening around her.  She cannot stand or walk and cannot move herself from bed to chair.   Second question–Will she be coming home?  No.  As a family, we have chosen to have her stay in skilled nursing.  They have the equipment and facilities to care for her and move her.

Life is hard, but life is good.  Our advice to you….prepare for the future.  It is coming.  Keep your relationships strong.  Designate (legally) those who can make decisions for you and care for your finances and other needs.  Trust in God and build a strong relationship with Him.  When the bottom of life falls out, God is there.  Our family cannot image how those without faith make it through the tough times.  Even when we did not know if Arla would live or die, we were rejoicing.  We did not want to lose her, but we had peace.  And today we have peace because God is working in and through Arla.  She blesses the world everyday.