Latest Overall Status
Last Update: Tue, Oct 14 11:20
(most recent updates in red)
Notes
One thing that lifts my mom's spirits is getting short messages from people. For example, Aunt Marlene sent just a couple of short paragraphs summarizing what's new and saying she was thinking of my mom. If you have a few sentences for us to share with her, text us, and we'll relay the message.
If anyone would like to send flowers, a gift, or a note, she's here:
Grand Strand Medical Center
809 82nd Pkwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
(843) 692-1000
Status
- Possibly going home on Sep 24!?
- She started acute therapy on Fri, Oct 3. It's the sixth floor of Grand Strand Hospital.
- This was a significant milestone. If she wasn't approved for acute therapy, that would mean they didn't think she could get much better.
- She passed the swallow test the morning of Tue, Sep 30.
- Now she can drink thick liquids and eat pureed food.
- And now the tube in her nose is finally out.
- Family has been with her 24/7.
- Can't move her right arm or leg, but she can now feel when you touch that side of her body.
- The right side of her mouth is droopy.
- She can understand when you talk to her at a normal pace.
- She can talk, but just a few words at a time, like: "I love you," or, "Horry County Hospital," etc.
- Sometimes she wants something, but the words are too quiet, or too hard to understand, and you can tell that she's sometimes frustrated that we don't know what she's saying.
- She wakes up, is fully coherent, and we just talk to her.
- Overall, there is continuous progress, which is important and good.
- Her smile is still beautiful.
Tue, Oct 14
Update on Mom – October 14
We had a team meeting today to review Mom’s progress and recovery plans.
Overall outlook:
Her care team feels she’s making steady progress, though recovery will still take time. They’re aiming for about 90% recovery around week 6, but emphasized that improvements in walking and talking can continue well beyond that — there’s no set limit on progress.
Current abilities:
- Team said she's starting to be able to move her right leg, but we haven't seen it. No movement in her right arm.
- She can eat on her own.
- She still needs help with bathing (about 50% assistance) and full help with footwear.
- Getting in and out of bed is difficult; therapists are encouraging her to do more of it without equipment.
- She still needs some help using the bathroom, though they expect that to lessen next week.
Speech and cognition:
We can understand about 50-60% of what she says right now. Speech, cognition, and swallowing therapy continue daily, and another swallow study (an x-ray of her swallowing ability) is scheduled for later this week.
Next steps:
Case management is in a “holding pattern” for now — they’ll discuss discharge plans next week. The doctor emphasized that she won’t be discharged until it’s safe, with the primary goal still being to return home once she’s ready.
Family note:
I (Bob) will be observing her physical therapy next week to get a better sense of her progress.
Mon, Oct 13
From Barb:
Mom had speech therapy today. Then she had physical therapy. She sat up and ate her lunch and she didn’t eat much of it but she ate it all on her own. We FaceTime aunt Carol and uncle Dale. And then occupational therapy came in at 1:30. Occupational therapy said that she’s gonna be added to the list for group luncheons meaning they put 2 to 3 people together at a table down in some lunchroom so they can all sit together and interact while they eat. So that’s a good new step she’s taking. I asked if there were any hot men. Meema rolled her eyes. Lol.
Wed, Oct 9
Continuing PT and making strides every day.
Mon, Oct 7
Entire medical team was in Mom's room today to discuss overall status. While they are still going to keep reevaluating as we go, they actually mentioned releasing Mom to go home on Fri, Sep 24. We're now trying to figure out long-term care because she'll need some help.
She is talking even better today. Improvements are being made every day.
Mon, Oct 6
Barb's reply to "how are things:"
Good. Occupational therapy arrived 7:30 am. New better wheelchair. Got her in it to feed her. Back into bed for speech therapy. She can stay in bed for that.
PT in at 10:30. All back to back. She’ll be exhausted after.
Sun, Oct 5
Bob and Holly drove home yesterday. Barb is sending a lot of updates. Here is the summary:
She is on her second day of acute therapy: speech, occupational, and physical. She is able to sit in a wheelchair without someone holding her in place. She is even going to the cafeteria now and having real food: muffins, mac and cheese, chicken alfredo, etc.
David is getting back to the hospital today to help be with her. Bob will go back to SC in maybe 2-3 weeks, depending on the progress.
She is making progress every day, which is all we can ask.
Fri, Oct 3
09:20
She woke up in a lot of pain around 1:00, but it appeared to be from a bed sore. We shifted her and it was much better. She had breakfast and medication recently, and now she’s sleeping/watching TV.
** BIG MILESTONE **
A lady just came in and said mom gets to go upstairs (acute therapy) today! She said probably early this afternoon.
10:02
Shannon, the speech therapist came in. She had Mom say:
- Numbers (1-10)
- Days of Week (got them all)
- Months (got them all)
- Alphabet (didn't do this one, but it's good to do)
- Singing (she sang the entire happy birthday song)
Good exercises:
- Puff her cheeks
- Pucker
- Smile
Good to do:
Put on country music station and hum along.
Shannon: favorite country artist?
Mom: Roy Orbison (what? really?)
Thu, Oct 2
09:56: Had a decent night. This morning she ate quite a bit (all pureed): peaches, pudding, magic cup ice cream, and some thick coffee. She even said: "Would you put my bed down, please?" She also looked at the analog clock and told me it was "quarter to nine," which was correct. She had a couple of her laughing attacks, too. When I woke up at 4:30 and looked at her, she was just lying there with her eyes open. I asked if she needed anything. She took my hand and said: "sleep." She wanted to make sure I was getting enough sleep. The only negative was that she didn't always recognize people in pictures, including me. But overall it's good progress.
10:56: She has had a few more laughing attacks. I also held up her phone, a book, and a chapstick. She was mostly able to pick the one I said. And when I showed her only the book, and asked what it was, she said: “picture book.” Then I help up the phone and she said: “picture phone.” So she’s close.
Also, Dr. Chastain just came in. He said they’re trying to get approval from Medicare or Medicaid today to cover the therapy. Mom has to be able to do three hours of therapy to get the kind she needs. Otherwise, they said nursing facility where it’s more just taking care of her. I told him we definitely want the more aggressive therapy. I explained she was able to do PT and speech therapy back to back.
15:36: From Holly:
- Caseworker said the doctor approved her therapy.
- Now they’re waiting on paperwork from the insurance company.
- It usually just takes a day to get all the paperwork back.
- They’re hoping tomorrow she can be move if there’s bed available.
- The caseworker will call Barb if there are any changes or when they know more info.
21:46: The doctor approved Mom for acute therapy, which is a significant milestone. That means the doctor thinks she has the potential to get better. She can't move her right side yet, but she can now feel when touched on her right side. And her words, and short sentences, are getting better each day. She's watching TV and we'll both be sleeping for the night soon.
Wed, Oct 1
8:54: Mom had ice cream and peanut butter last night and loved it. She had a good night. Drawing blood causes her pain because it's hard to find a vein. Other than that, she's fairly comfortable. She's saying words more loudly this morning. Hopefully we'll find out the results of yesterday's CT scan this morning, and we're pushing to get her to rehab before the weekend so we don't have to wait all weekend. We've asked her if she knows what year it is (multiple times), and she says no. She just had breakfast and now she's watching Andy Griffith, falling asleep, and snoring loudly. :)
9:52: PT was just here. Mom sat up, looked at herself in the mirror, and used her left arm to reach for things in various places. They had to hold her in place so she could stay sitting upright, but they did it for at least 15 minutes, which was good for her. Doctor also came in. CT scan was good. No new blood issues or anything else. She said moving her to longer-term therapy is up to the case worker, and the order has been put in. Just waiting for an opening.
11:04:
Shannon, from speech therapy, was just here. She said while Mom can’t have ice cream, they have a special kind here called Magic Cup. The orange tastes like orange sherbet. Mom lit up. Shannon will make sure we get some. I think she said we can also get it outside the hospital.
Speech therapy had mixed results. First, she answered a lot of questions correctly. She saw three pictures and had to point to the one she heard the app say. Then there were individual pictures and she had to say what they were.
While she answered most (~75%) correctly, she missed these:
- Does march come before june?
- Do you eat a banana before you peel it?
- Are the lights on in this room? (They were on and very bright.)
- Couldn't identify a horse.
- Point to the ceiling and blink twice. (She blinked, but didn't point to the ceiling.)
- Point to the window. (Just didn't do it.)
- Say "x" (I forgot what word was used). She said: "I'm tired."
- Is your hobby watching tv or fishing? She said fishing. The therapist asked: "Do you like to fish," and she said yes. This was a surprise to me, and I think just wrong.
Get Lingraphica for the iPhone. Do these with her:
- oral motor exercises
- conversation
- activities of daily living
The Lingraphica apps: SmallTalk (oral motor, phonemes, conversation, ADLs, etc.).
Put three objects on a table and have her pick the one we say.
Also say, "this is a straw. what is this?"
After rehab: Medical Univ SC, stroke research center
We should contact them.
Will put her name in DB. When they do a research project for that area of the brain, they can include her. They can pick her up, and sometimes pay you to participate. (If we reach a plateau, this can help.)
Getting to acute rehab is important. It's what she needs.
- Encompass in Little River
- Tidelands
- Grand Strand
Defintitely go to one of these three.
ACUTE REHAB only. That's what she needs.
If aphasia persists, there are four rehabs (dedicated aphasia programs) in the country: FL, CA, MI, IL, CO
Hopefully she doesn't need it.
Swallowing exercises (sheet of paper): start with 6 and 8
20:44: When Mom was moved, she had pain in her right leg today, which is GREAT. She felt it! I guess that pain can happen when feeling starts coming back. And she felt us tickle her right foot and even pulled her foot away. I hope this means she's going to get some function back on her right side. She's resting comfortably now.
Tue, Sep 30
Not much to report overnight, but she's tired this morning. Sleeping now.
10:08
Mom just asked me to sing. So this happened:
Me: “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw it…”
Mom: “You would even say it glows.”
11:30
She passed the swallow test this morning! Now she can drink thick liquids and eat pureed food. And now the tube in her nose is finally out!
21:30
We had a bit of a scare today. Mom didn't want to be awake. She would wake up for a few seconds, then be out again. It got to the point where the nurse was concerned and so they took her for a CT scan. We're still waiting for those results (from about two hours ago). However, she has been awake and alert for a good hour now. She even had a cup of ice cream and a tiny cup of peanut butter. She's now resting and watching Everybody Loves Raymond.
Sep 29
Resting somewhat comfortably. Waiting for swallow test tomorrow. Can say a few words in a row.
Swallow test: she FINALLY swallowed correctly. They will do a barium swallow test tomorrow morning. If that goes well, they can remove the tube.
Met with the doctor. Bob asked how her overall progress is, and without hesitation, the doctor said: "fantastic." While it's not good that she has no use of her right side, her speaking improvement has been great. And they are getting ready to start doing therapy.
Physical Therapy
-Therapists rolled a mirror in front of her for visual feedback.
-Had her try to high-five herself for coordination practice.
-Supported her while she brushed her own hair with her left hand.
-Asked her to kick with her left leg five times-she did well with this.
Biggest challenge was supporting herself from side to side, but she made the effort.
They said overall it was good progress.
She was coughing a lot tonight, and it was because her tube wasn't in the right spot (her stomach). They adjusted it, and now she's sleeping, hopefully for most of the night.
Sep 23 - 27
Holly's Dad Passed Away
Holly's dad was found on the floor of his home on Tue, Sep 23. He was taken to the hospital. Bob and Holly flew from SC to FL on Wed, Sep 24 to be at his side. He passed away on Sat, Sep 27 just before noon. Bob and Holly flew back to SC on Sun, Sep 28. (Holly's dad had a weak heart and his kidneys were barely functioning.)
Sep 21 - 28
[I can fill in some more info here, but let's get the latest shown below so folks can see what's new.]
Sep 21, 2025
Doris had a stroke this morning. Barb called 911 and an ambulance took Doris to the hospital where they did emergency surgery to remove the blood clot in her brain. They actuallly went through the groin and sucked the blood clot out that way.
These are Barb's Facebook posts about it.
Devastating news. My Mom had a massive stroke yesterday.
I got a gibberish text from her early in the morning (she texts me every morning and night).
I raced to her. She obviously needed an ambulance. They got her to the hosiptial and confirmed the stroke and performed a thrombectomy.
She is currently unable to speak or move her right side (face, arm, leg).
We are PRAYING that she regains speech and movement of her right side.
She can hear us and responds by lifting her brows for “yes” and closing her eyes or blinking for “no”.
Anyone that believes in prayer…. We would appreciate any and all prayers for Doris Appelt Horn, my Mother Dearest and best friend!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Such a difficult time. She is surrounded by many loved ones as we pray and do whatever we can to help her heal.
😢🙏🏼😢
Meema (Mom) update. Sunday morning stroke:
She has complete paralysis of her right side (face, arm, leg). She is completely “there”. Understands everything we say. For 2 days she couldn’t even move her mouth to talk. She was so frustrated to not be able to talk or even move her lips to express her thoughts and feelings — just stared with sad and devastated eyes over her condition.
The right side of her face is still drooped. Tuesday night my brother Bob asked her a yes or no question that was “yes” with raised eyebrows or a “no” w a blink. Instead of that SHE SAID “NO”!!!!!!! Slurry no, but a no nonetheless.
Wednesday a “yes” came out. Slurry. She also said my name. Slurry.
If I say “I” she SAYS “love you” slurred but for sure that.
Thursday/today…. Doctor asked her where she is. She doesn’t know which hospital she is in so she spoke THREE words in a row “Horry County Hospital”!!!!!!!!!!!! No pause. Had to know what she was saying to know she answered correctly. But she did!!!! No pause. Couldn’t say the year it is
She still can’t swallow so has a feeding tube in her nose. She hates it. Pulled it out once on Monday night so they have STRAPPED HER DOWN. She hates that.
When I’m alone w her I release her and hold her hand. Have gotten in trouble more than once but please tell me how an 80 year old woman half paralyzed with only 2 fingers on her only functioning hand could arm wrestle me to get to her feeding tube.
I’m about to be banned from the hospital but I think it is absolute cruelty to give her not even one single inch of wiggle room. She needs to move her arm at least bit.
They turned her to her right/paralyzed side yesterday and kept her left hand strapped so tightly to the bed like a person in the back of a police car with cuffs behind her back. Evil!
When staff comes in she throws her hand down and I snap her back in. She knows if we get kicked out she is alone. She’s accepted the strap when someone isn’t holding her hand.
She still can’t swallow so needs the tube or one surgically in her stomach/abdomen. Doctors keep giving us mixed info as to doing that or not so she can move on to the upper floor for therapy. We will decide tomorrow.
We’ve printed emojis and words for her to point to in order to communicate. Sometimes works.
There is improvement every day w getting some words out.
I’m so glad that she is surrounded by family every single second she is there. I pass by rooms for 4 days now with not one visitor and seeing them strapped. No help w providing the sponge of minimal water to wet their lips or clean their mouth, or have interaction. It’s so sad!
Mom hasn’t been alone for one second (unless staff make us leave for her sponge bath).
She’s still sassy and loving. Struggling but has improvement in some words. It’s amazing!!!! Likely will never walk again, may need a feeding tube forever, but at least she is starting to communicate! She likes us jumping up and down with each new word! Her half smile is beautiful!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
