This seems the most efficient way to let folks here know. Marilee Layman has been hospitalized with a stroke. Marilee's health has been precarious for many years, so this is...bad, though not as bad as it could be. This is after another inconclusive hospitalization earlier this week.
I spoke earlier this evening to one of her friends from her library book group, Steve, who has been to the hospital to visit and reports that she is in the non-critical Neurological ICU. She is conscious and responsive and does not appear physically impaired, but is having difficulty finding words. He was able to visit only for a few minutes before she started to get a headache. He picked up her house key and reassured her that her cats would be cared for by a neighbor who has done so in the past, which was her major concern. (And he visited the cats and told me they were fine, if annoyed at having dry food.)
I've never met Marilee in person, but she has been incredibly supportive of me as a blogger and a friend and has been one of the most regular commenters here and on my dance history blog. Her absence leaves a noticeable hole in our conversation and a gaping hole in my heart. Hopefully it will be temporary and brief.
Since no one has access to her LJ account to post updates there, Steve has set up a separate forum on which he can provide updates on Marilee's condition here. The hospital will not reveal information to anyone outside the family, but Steve is in touch with Marilee's brother for medical updates.
Thank you Susan, for providing the link to the forum that Steve set up. I had an e-mail earlier today from a mutual friend of Marilee's and mine, asking if I had heard from her. Now I can send her the link so she can be in the loop, too.
Posted by: AJ | March 06, 2009 at 04:14 AM
I hope she gets better soon.
Posted by: Michael A. Burstein | March 06, 2009 at 08:24 AM
Terribly clichéd to say so, but my thoughts are with her.
Posted by: Serge | March 06, 2009 at 08:31 AM
It's amazing how well Marilee's system of "post on LJ to prove I'm not dead" works - after <48 hours with no posts alarms were sounding all over the place.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 06, 2009 at 08:48 AM
The system certainly worked, and hopefully it'll fill Marilee with joy that it worked so well and so loud.
Posted by: Serge | March 06, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Ack. I don't have any words.
Posted by: Neil Willcox | March 06, 2009 at 12:47 PM
The forum linked above has been very active with Marilee's friends from various places on the net and reports from people who have visited her in the hospital. She's definitely still there mentally, though still having trouble finding words. I am cautiously optimistic that she may have dodged the bullet, though I don't imagine recovery is going to be any fun and what this means for her long-term health is unclear.
Marilee's birthday is Tuesday, and Steve has asked for birthday greetings to be posted in a specific thread on the forum for him to print out and bring to her on Tuesday night. Please read the instructions for this (in a separate post) before posting - there are specific requests re. font size, use of color, etc.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 08, 2009 at 09:01 AM
I used the KISS principle in my wishes to her. I hope she comes back to us soon.
Posted by: Serge | March 08, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Updating from the Marilee-forum:
The news is quite good: she's probably going to a normal hospital bed sometime this week and they're estimating a one-month rehab period before she can return home.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 08, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Yay!
Posted by: Serge | March 09, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Happy Birthday, Marilee.
Posted by: Serge | March 10, 2009 at 02:03 PM
I miss her! I don't know how soon she'll be able to come back. One of her visitors said that while she is coherent and grammatical, it's like she's forgotten her entire English vocabulary. I don't know if that will apply to writing/typing as well as speech or to what degree it can be repaired/relearned, or how quickly.
But it is a source of gladness that we still have Marilee in the world, even if not with us at the moment.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 10, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Update on a visit last night here.
Short version: physically pretty good, problems finding words in speech but able to carry on a conversation, not able to read.
That last scares me to death.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 11, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Not being able to read? That's way up there on my list too. Let's hope that this is indeed a short-term situation.
Posted by: Serge | March 11, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I derive hope from Soren's progress in recovering from his much worse stroke back in October.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 11, 2009 at 09:58 AM
The latest report is that Marilee's reading skills are making a comeback. Phew!
Posted by: Serge | March 11, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Woo hoo!
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 11, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Good news indeed!
Posted by: AJ | March 11, 2009 at 04:12 PM
The latest... She has asked not just for her cell phone but for a book she was half-done with before her stroke.
Posted by: Serge | March 12, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Didn't she get a little notebook computer of some kind recently? I hope she asks for that soon...
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 13, 2009 at 07:19 AM
Yes, that's the one the giving of which was organized by Ginger. It'll be nice when Marilee pops back around.
Posted by: Serge | March 13, 2009 at 08:14 AM
I just got an email notification about Marilee. This time though, when I clicked on the link, the 'post' about Marilee contained nothing about our girl. It instead looks like a link to spam-smelling places. I didn't test that theory though.
Posted by: Serge | March 15, 2009 at 03:36 PM
I don't think anyone is sending out email updates, so that's probably spam.
The latest update on the forum is that she may be released TOMORROW!!!!
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 15, 2009 at 06:09 PM
So I've heard. Huzzah!
Posted by: Serge | March 15, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Has anybody heard recent news?
Posted by: Serge | March 18, 2009 at 10:24 PM
According to a book group friend, she's now at Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria for physical and language therapy.
Posted by: Carol Witt | March 18, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Thanks, Carol.
Posted by: Serge | March 18, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Latest update:
She's now at the hospital that will do the PT/rehab. They don't expect her to be there long. She's talking pretty well. There's a video of Marilee up here.
It's funny...while I've seen pictures of Marilee, I'd never heard her voice before!
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 20, 2009 at 05:36 AM
I had never heard Marilee, but I am quite happy that I could do so today.
Posted by: Serge | March 20, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Susan, the first time that Marilee called me when she started having this trouble, it was really weird. Her voice sounded much younger than I expected.
Posted by: AJ | March 20, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Marilee is back to posting.
Yay!
Posted by: Serge | March 20, 2009 at 01:47 PM
It looks from this visit report that Marilee is making a pretty full recovery very quickly.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 22, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Who knows? She may be back here in a few days. Looking forward to that, whenever that is.
Posted by: Serge | March 22, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Marilee is home and posting on her LJ!!
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 25, 2009 at 07:07 AM
Thanks, Susan. I was wondering.
Posted by: Serge | March 25, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Let's see. My post here for today. :) It was after the first stroke that the doctors had me call someone everyday so they'd know I was alive. Then there was email, and three years ago, LJ instead. And yes, it does seem to work.
I wasn't there mentally at first. I thought the nurses were werewolves and would hurt me and I tried to escape and they restrained me. I have most words back, but there are still some that are in my head but don't come out.
I couldn't read for a bit, but I finished the book I'd started and am halfway through the last book of the series.
I really appreciate Steve taking things on. He and his wife Carol brought me home yesterday. When the hospital insisted on a contact, his name was the only one I could read in my phone.
Posted by: Marilee J. Layman | March 25, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Welcome back, Marilee. We missed you!
Posted by: Serge | March 25, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Hurrah! Marilee is back!
It's so good to see you here again, Marilee. We've missed you.
Posted by: Susan de Guardiola | March 25, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Welcome back, Marilee!
Your friend Steve is awesome. Please give him a high five for me. His forum kept me from worrying TOO much. I knew just what to worry about and didn't have to make up crazy things to worry about ;)
Posted by: AJ | March 25, 2009 at 09:13 PM
Friends. The best thing there is.
Posted by: Serge | March 25, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Welcome back, Marilee!
Posted by: Carol Witt | March 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Welcome back, Marilee!
Posted by: Mary Aileen | March 26, 2009 at 10:44 AM