Olive Osmond, mother to the singing Osmonds, is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days.

Olive, 74, has been in the hospital since Nov. 12, after suffering a stroke in St. George. She will live in her new Provo home with husband, George, after her release.

"We wanted to bring her to her new home," said Jay Osmond, 46, and No. 6 of the Osmond children. "We're excited about that. It's been almost four months. We'll have nurses with her."

Olive underwent two surgeries since the stroke and has worked through rehabilitation therapies with determination, said Jimmy Osmond from his home in Branson, Mo.

Jay said his mother will be released from Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in a matter of days.

"She's really tough," he said. "She's always been a real go-getter."

Grandmother to 57 and great-grandmother to 14, Olive is "sharp as a tack and hasn't lost her sense of humor," Jay said.

His mother used to believe, "You should stop and smell the roses," he said. Now it's "Go after it."

With time on her hands, Olive likes to "punch on her computer, and the first thing she wrote after her second operation was 'Families are Forever,'" Jay said.

The sixth Osmond said his family always gathers together during traumatic times.

"It's amazing how we gather together, holding her hand, saying something positive," he said.

With the Osmond Brothers performing at Thanksgiving Point tonight and Friday, they wish Olive was well enough to attend.

"But we'll sneak father out, he needs a break," Jay said.

Virl, the oldest Osmond child, and his wife, Chris, have been champions watching out not only for mother, but father, 83, who's really taken it hard, he said.

Prayers and e-mails from around the world give Olive hope and are appreciated, Jay said.

    Update from Jimmy Osmond

Olive Osmond is coming home to Provo, one of her famous singing sons says.

Speaking from his home in Branson, Mo., Wednesday, Jimmy Osmond said his 76-year-old mother will be released from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center sometime during the next couple of weeks and will take up residence at a new home in Provo with her husband, George.

"Mother" Osmond has been in the hospital since Nov. 12, 2001, after she suffered a stroke in St. George.

The woman who, along with her husband, raised a generation of entertainers and was a phone buddy for Elvis Presley as well as the force behind the family success has undergone two surgeries since the stroke and has worked through rehabilitation therapies with determination and characteristic pluck.

"She's doing well," said Jimmy Osmond. "She's a fighter. She's hanging in there for us."

And there's a lot of "us," — enough family that someone related to Olive has been with her almost around the clock over the past months.

They've made regular trips to her room to sing her favorite barbershop songs to her.

The Osmond family has eight sons: Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny and Jimmy; one daughter, Marie; and, at last count, 53 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A new granddaughter — who will bear the middle name of Olive — is expected by Jimmy Osmond and his wife at any moment.

"It's another girl, which is a unique thing for Osmonds," Jimmy Osmond said.

Olive Osmond's hospitalization has not gone unnoticed.

Well-wishers from around the globe have written her personal letters, sent gifts and e-mailed her faithfully.

"It's been amazing," Jimmy Osmond said. "You wouldn't believe the response."

On the family Web site, Olive wrote this message back, dictated to daughter-in-law Chris: "I want to write a note to all my Osmond fans and friends. As I lay here in the hospital with all these tubes the hospital has hooked up to me and I struggle to get well again, I want to thank everyone who has sent me cards and letters and have kept me in their prayers. All the messages and love has been very helpful. Thank you so much for remembering me."

Another message, dictated to her son Alan, reads: "Life is beautiful, and Heavenly Father loves us all. If you only knew how precious life is, you would cherish every moment. . . . Be strong, have faith through these troubled times, and know that you are loved and watched over from above.

Love, Mother Osmond."

    Nathan gave us an update on Mother Osmond during the 01-30-02 chat:

My Grandma and Grandpa are doing well, and Grandma is progressing every day.

She is an amazing woman.

We went over and sang for her the other day. We sang some of the old barbershop songs and it brought a smile to her face.

She sends her love to all of you!"

    This is a message dictated by Olive to her daughter-in-law Chris that she asked us to post on the internet:

"I want to write a note to all my Osmond fans and friends. As I lay here in the hospital with all these tubes the hospital has hooked up to me and I struggle to get well again, I want to thank everyone who has sent me cards and letters and have kept me in their prayers. All the messages and love have been very helpful.

Thank you so much for remembering me.

Love, Olive"

  I am sure that many of you know that Mother was doing great and was moved to rehab where she was physically exercising and getting stronger. The staff use her as an example of someone with great faith and a strong heart. She developed a problem with her breathing but it has been corrected. We sure appreciate your added faith and prayers. She is special! 

Alan

 

 

   Hello Everyone,
This is Olive. I have asked Alan to put my message on the Internet to all of you, that I love you and appreciate all of your comments and get well messages.

I want you to know that my family has been around me every moment, and I have felt the strength of your prayers. I am getting better and hope to return home soon . 

Life is beautiful, and Heavenly father loves us all. If you only knew how precious life is, you would cherish every moment.

I am looking forward to writing you all a personal message on my computer.

Be strong, have faith through these troubled times, and know that you are loved and watched over from above.

Love, Mother Osmond

 

 

    Hello friends,
A lot has taken place this past week with our Mother's health. She has improved and has been upgraded from intensive care unit to the rehab area in the hospital. She is starting rehabilitation and the doctors are hopeful for a good recovery.

Thank you for your continued prayers in Mother's behalf. She will soon be accessing the Osmond.com pages on the internet to see all your entries in her "Get Well" section. We know she will enjoy your messages.{Click to sign}

We should note that her only brother and sibling, Tom Davis, took very ill while Mother was in the hospital. They were in intensive care at the same time with rooms side by side. Tom passed away the other day and we will be having funeral services for him this afternoon. Our love and sympathies go to him, Aunt Helen and their family.

More updates soon,
Alan Osmond

    Hello Everyone,
This is Alan on November 29th with an update on our Mother's health improvement.
Yes, she is improving daily! I spent all day yesterday with her and every adult Osmond/Osmond spouse, except those who are in Branson or on tour with commitments, has had the blessing of taking our turns in watching over her on a 24 hr. basis.

The two surgeries that she had seem to be working well and the doctors say she is a miracle story (she wasn't expected to make it) and is ahead of schedule where they thought she would be. With her faith, your prayers, and love, we are trying to get her out of intensive care and into rehab status. She did have some problems with her throat and the air tubes she initially had for breathing caused her some swelling. She needed a Tracheotomy. She writes us notes, she doesn't seem to have lost any activity with moving her limbs or facial nerves. She has a strong heart and is breathing well.

I also had a very fun day with my Father yesterday. He still beats me at checkers! I hope my children and I can have days together when I get older like the day my Father and I had. We have been born of goodly parents!

Thanks for your concerns! Thanks for you prayers and for writing in Mothers Get Well Book!

Alan Osmond (For all the Osmonds)

    Dear friends,
It is November 20th and I know you all want an update on how our Mother is doing.

First of all, I want to tell you how much your prayers have touched our Mother. Yesterday I was with her most of the day and I told her again about all of your get well messages and faith and prayers that you have offered in her behalf.

I would love to say that she is fine . . . but she still needs your help and has some battles to win. She has had several blessings and has her family around her on a 24 hour basis.

She can communicate with us a little and can squeeze, wink, nod, etc. She even wrote some simple word notes. She wanted me to express on the internet that she loves you all very much and gives her love and thanks to all of you for your caring prayers.{Click to sign}

By reading your get well notes, it is obvious that she has touched your lives as she has ours. Please continue to exercise your faith and prayers in her behalf.

She is a special woman and has such a positive spirit. We as a family are learning so much from her strength and goodness.

Thank you for "being there" for her at this critical time.

Love,
Alan Osmond