The doctor said there was nothing that could be done...

Despite numerous prayers and good faith efforts, all my attempts to improve my relationship with my mom had fallen short. So I couldn't accept the post-stroke reality that she didn't recognize I was her daughter, and that it was only going to get worse. Anguish aside, the doctor's assessment of her situation didn't add up. We needed a second opinion.

Three months, additional hospitalizations, a higher dose of statins, a fall, a hip replacement, and a skilled nursing facility experience that rivaled a descent into the depths of Hades later, we finally got that second opinion and a new care plan for her cognitive dysfunction.

Six months post-stroke, she started to improve. Praise God! This journey continues to be a roller coaster, but I committed to making it a fabulous ride, and at the very least, not leaving her side.

I believe that if you can use your knowledge and experiences to help others, you are transforming what might have been a negative into a positive. So here we are. I also thought it would be a shame to let my finely honed skill of overthinking go to waste. ;)

With Love,
Patty Fadhouli
Widad's Daughter