Did She Have a Stroke?

This picture is from this evening (Friday), where we played a great round of stick, just about an hour ago. There is a whole series of these photos, but this one shows the most action from her, the little girl.

I think Everett had a stroke last night (Thursday night). We were out for our "run" and all of a sudden her movement slowed to an old dog's walk. For the first time since LAST winter, she looked like an old dog in her movements. Really old.

We came home and she fell into the bed in the kitchen, where she remained for a long time. She was not able to rise on her own. After I helped her to her feet, she slipped all over the kitchen floor--not able to keep her feet under her. Moving toward the bedroom, she wrapped herself around the leg of the dining room table, and did not know how to extract herself from it. I helped her to her bed, where she literally fell onto her side and stayed there.

She looked at me, but her eyes were twitching side to side at a rapid pace, as though she were gazing at me and someone next to me over and over again. Terrified, I didn't know what to do.

I spent the night on the floor with Everett. It was a terrible night. And yet, about 3:30am, she woke me to go outside, and she was already standing. She moved with her normal grace to the door. Though she hesitated at the step on the patio, she made it both down and then up the step and back to bed. By morning, it was as though the night's shakiness had never happened.

And so tonight's fun is extra special, because just 24 hrs ago, she was barely able to stand. She sleeps soundly now. I hope to as well.