Mandy Nagy is recovering from a massive stroke she suffered 6 September 2014. [See previous posts here and here.]
Mandy’s personal friend Bill Jacobson has been posting updates periodically on Legal-Insurrection. Here are recent entries in sequential order:
Update 8:30 a.m. 12-30-2014 — Mandy’s mom conveys that Mandy can walk very short distances with help, a left walker and a leg brace. She needs help with everything else. Improvement in her speech has been slow. She understands much of what is said to her but not everything. She has lost some of her memory and she does not recognize some simple tasks, words, objects and people she once knew. She is starting to get interested in current events and watches the news.
(added) Mandy’s mother has posted an update tonight at the fundraising page:
This New Year’s Eve Mandy is home. Different therapists come to the home to provide rehab. She can walk short distances with my help and a left handed walker. She still has no use of her right arm but can feel some sensation. In addition to her IPad that has Apps on it, she is now using a speech recognition device which will help her to communicate. She understands most of what is said to her but cannot respond verbally. Surgery to re-attach her skull is scheduled for Jan. 8th. She is deeply touched and so very grateful to everyone who has donated, sent notes and gifts, prayers and good wishes. I believe 2015 is going to be a good year. Happy and healthy New Year to everyone.
Folks, this will be a long road for Mandy. Please consider donating to her fundraiser if you have not already, or a second donation if you have already donated. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE.
You can pay by credit card at the GoFundMe page:
You also can pay by check, payable to the “Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust” at the following address:
Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust
P.O. Box 33
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938
Update 9:25 a.m. 2-13-2015
Mandy’s Mom writes at the Fundraising Page:
Mandy’s surgery on Jan. 8, 2015 was good with no complications. Her skull is back and now she can grow her hair back. She was slower and weaker than usual after it, but now she is back on track.
For weeks, several different therapists came to our home for rehab. But now that has ended and she begins outpatient rehab next week.
She still cannot speak except for a few words, i.e., Yes, no, and Oh my God. She understands most of what is said to her, however, she cannot respond verbally. She has a speech generating device that helps somewhat with some of her needs. But back and forth conversation is frustrating for her.
She is in good spirits and still has her sense of humor. Our three King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are constant companions for her and she enjoys them very much. Good thing she likes animals.
Her walking has gotten better to the point I can let her walk on her own with a walker on her left side and without me holding on to her.
She has lost some of her memory. Hopefully someday she will get it back.
I show her the donations and good wishes everyone posts and sends. She is very grateful and touched by it.
Again, thank you everyone. Ginny Nagy
Mandy’s Mom further wrote to me: “Although I try often to get her interested in the internet, she still shows no interest.” At least she has her priorities straight!
Update 2:35 p.m. 4-4-2015
Mandy’s Mom writes at the Fundraising Page:
Thank you to everyone for all of your kind notes, prayers and donations. I apologize for not posting updates more often. Mandy sees each post and is very touched that there are so many people who care about her. I know she misses the way it used to be.
Mandy has gotten to the point where she can walk short distances around the house and outside with a walker or pronged cane without my holding on to her. She wears a brace on her right leg. She is very slowly doing more things on her own. She does not have use of her right arm.
Speaking is still very difficult for her because she knows what she wants to say but doesn’t know how to yet. She has a speech generating device that helps her to form words and learn language starting with the alphabet. Her neurologist has said that almost all of the cells on the left side of the brain have been destroyed. Those cells cannot come back, but the right side can compensate and learn to do some of the things the left side used to do. I see improvement but it can take months/years to come about. She goes to outpatient rehab almost every day for PT, OT and Speech Therapy. She is beginning to look like herself again since her hair is now growing back and she has started wearing her glasses. She can read a little but cannot write since she doesn’t know language yet.
At this point she still needs around the clock care. But slowly she will learn to do some of those things on her own. Our long term goal is to eventually get her in her own apartment with a live-in caregiver. I won’t always be here for her and I am not getting any younger.
I will need to find someone kind, capable and willing to replace me. She remains positive and in good spirits.
Ginny Nagy
Mandy, we miss you.
[Updated 2 August 2015]
Update 11:20 a.m. 7-20-2015 — Mandy’s Mom writes
She is making some improvement, but slowly. She has had to learn how to do everything from which utensil to use at a meal to how to blow her nose. She goes to outpatient rehab 2-3 times a week for physical and speech therapy. She can walk on her own using a 4-prong cane (as opposed to the larger walker she was using) but still needs the wheelchair. She has learned how to put her socks, brace and shoes on. That is a big deal since she doesn’t need to rely on me now to get up and do this every time she has to get out of bed. I still have to bath and dress her, prepare her meals and help her at the table.
She understands most of what we are saying to her but it sometimes takes a while before she processes what we said. She cannot talk yet except for a few words. I continue to try to encourage her to go on the internet, twitter, facebook, etc. but she shows no interest. She can only read a little.
She seems stronger and is up all day now. She used to go to her bed by noon. I will be looking for a caregiver for her soon. I am not young anymore. This job has been hard. And, I will someday be gone, so I need to set her up on her own with a live-in caregiver who will be content doing this kind of work.
You can Donate at the Fundraising Page.
Tags: Bill Jacobson, Breitbart, journalism, Legal Insurrection, Mandy Nagy
