Journal entry by Al Negstad — 25 minutes ago
Perhaps she was a bit less engaged. If you knew Joanne you know she was actively engaged when there were people around. It was a beautiful Mother's Day afternoon with the family all enjoying a meal in L's backyard. On the way home we had to make a stop. The condo garage had been cleaned and that necessitated moving a car from the ramp to it's proper stall at the condo. When I left Joanne off at her car she seemed momentarily confused but successfully drove it to it's place.
When I arrived home L called and asked if Mom was OK? L & L both had thought she didn't seem herself. "Let me check" I said, "and I will call you back." That's when things got really strange. Joanne had no memory of the afternoon, where we were, who was there, how we got home...nothing. A quick call and off we went to the emergency room at the University Hospital.
It was so strange because, other than not remembering anything, Joanne seemed normal. She had no slurred speech, drooping face, nor weakness on one side suggesting a stroke. After some tests the on-call neurologist interviewed Joanne. One of his first questions was "What special day is this?" Joanne thought a little bit and said "It's the 4th Sunday after Easter." While that was true, and prompted some smiles on the part of her family, 'Mother's Day' was completely lost to her.
Within a few minutes of that question Joanne 'recovered', though the memory of everything from noon until 10:00 p.m. in the emergency room, was lost to her. The diagnosis was 'temporary global amnesia (TGA).' Typically it lasts 10 or 12 hours, the patient remembers nothing in that period, seldom ever repeats and has not long term consequences.
Joanne remembered being in church, thus the '4th Sunday of Easter,' but not leaving nor any of the afternoon events. Her final Mother's Day was exactly the day she relished, but it was lost to her. Now, she too, is lost.
Blessings,
Al
When I arrived home L called and asked if Mom was OK? L & L both had thought she didn't seem herself. "Let me check" I said, "and I will call you back." That's when things got really strange. Joanne had no memory of the afternoon, where we were, who was there, how we got home...nothing. A quick call and off we went to the emergency room at the University Hospital.
It was so strange because, other than not remembering anything, Joanne seemed normal. She had no slurred speech, drooping face, nor weakness on one side suggesting a stroke. After some tests the on-call neurologist interviewed Joanne. One of his first questions was "What special day is this?" Joanne thought a little bit and said "It's the 4th Sunday after Easter." While that was true, and prompted some smiles on the part of her family, 'Mother's Day' was completely lost to her.
Within a few minutes of that question Joanne 'recovered', though the memory of everything from noon until 10:00 p.m. in the emergency room, was lost to her. The diagnosis was 'temporary global amnesia (TGA).' Typically it lasts 10 or 12 hours, the patient remembers nothing in that period, seldom ever repeats and has not long term consequences.
Joanne remembered being in church, thus the '4th Sunday of Easter,' but not leaving nor any of the afternoon events. Her final Mother's Day was exactly the day she relished, but it was lost to her. Now, she too, is lost.
Blessings,
Al
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