Encouragement for the Princess

The news regarding Cammie is encouraging.

For one thing, her eyes’ appearance has largely returned to normal. The immensity of her pupils, completely dilated initially, has decreased, and they look to be about a normal size. I have no idea whether this means she can see or will be able to see at some point. She may still be blind, or partially blind. I have attempted to test her sight, but even when she was well, trying to stimulate her vision by some motion on my part would have been haphazard; she always tended to ignore my actions until they were close to her anyway. Her hearing is very good, so that, if she is paying attention - or wants to hear something - she will be ready for me when I come into a room or make a movement, without having to rely on sight in any case. She is, however, very comfortable with walking about the apartment. This could be due to familiarity coupled with acute senses aside from sight. I will simply have to wait to determine this point. (This photograph is from a year ago, and is my favourite of mine.)

The princess is eating better now, thank goodness. I think her appetite will improve further when she is weaned off the Perdnisolone she is taking right now. As well, the shock of the stroke may have to recede somewhat before she feels better, and not just about eating.

One that aspect of her health, I have noticed that she seems a little ‘off’, perhaps just more fatigued than she used to be. This, of course, is to be expected, with such a violent experience as a stroke. If her recovery from other effects is an indication, though, she will eventually come back from this, too.

Cammie will be going to the doctor for an evaluation on June 6th, the date of her intended dental surgery. Any kind of anaesthetic is out of the question right now; it may be so forever, though I hope not. I would like to have her teeth seen to before it is too late. It may be too late now, unfortunately; I should have arranged for an appointment earlier. Even a week sooner would have allowed the procedure to be done - though, come to think of it, being under anaesthetic may have triggered a stroke in itself, so perhaps she was lucky it happened when it did.

In one factor, we are very fortunate. Cammie hates receiving medicine orally. Liquids, injected into her mouth, are a tribulation to her, but are practicable. Pills are a torment for both her and me. She requires blood-pressure medicine; she will be on that indefinitely, though possibly not permanently. In any case, it will be for some time. I had decided not to give her the medicine if it could be delivered only in pill form. I thought it pointless to administer something to reduce her blood pressure, if the administration itself caused that pressure to rise. But now, I will be receiving the medicine as a transdermal cream, to be rubbed into the princess’s ears. I did the same with Tungsten’s hyperthyroid medicine. This is an immense relief to me, and means that I can give Cammie her medicine for as long as she needs it. It is expensive, however, the cost inflated, I think, by the compounding process.

All in all, I am pleased with events in the wake of her stroke. If such a catastrophe had to occur, then recovery could not be much better than it has been. I will continue to test her sight, but I suspect the results will be inconclusive; the truth may have to wait until her doctor’s appointment. Until then, I will simply be grateful that my princess is still with me and, considering what has happened, in remarkably good - or perhaps I should write 'lucky' - health.