When Cara had her first surgery, then as it turned out two mild strokes (we thought just one)...it robbed her of her wonderful personality...she was unable to express herself, show any emotions, or any fear, or excitement....simply monotone and very neutral which of course very scary.  The stroke was on the left brain...so affected her right side...my guess the "expressions" must be from the left brain.   Since her second surgery, on the left side (she had the STA-MCA bypass and the EMS - encephalomyosynangiosis surgeries done)...I wonder now if the little additional blood flow (and a oxgyen to her left brain) is helping in that area.  It has to...as my three teenage boys and hubby met us at the airport last night and said she is SO much better, SO much more alive than when we left.  She feels so alive that I am afraid she is overdoing her activities !!!!  Will keep you posted.   ::) ::) ::) CarasMOM

WOW!!! That is so awesome.I am so happy for your family to have your little girl back.That brought tears to my eyes.I agree though that the surgery does something almost imediatly it seems like. After Kathleen's first surgery she had very severe strokes(weakened right side and lost everything on her left)She couldn't move any muscle on the left before her second surgery and her left side was "ice cold". The day after ehr second surgery her left side was warm and she wiggled a finger when we pocked hard at it.We cried.....It was so reasurring.Many prayers still for continued recover.Give ehr a huge ((((HUG))))
Mary grace

I'm glad to here the Great News!
I read somewhere that strokes can cause drastic personalitiy changes, I'm glad Cara's were just temporary.

Rena

Thank you Mary Grace and Rena....
...for the greetings...:-)  Today she felt sick and was vomiting but seems to be fine now.  I think she "overdid" her activites today which weren't much but still maybe tad too much... ::) ::) But it so good to get "her" back.  

hugs,  carasMOM