Another Kodak Moment
It’s amazing to look back on today and realize I spent nearly all of it sitting with mom in the hospital. It’s ironic that a little over one year ago I showed up to find mom in the exact hospital room. Last year it was 2302B — this time she is in 2302A. She’s been upgraded to the window bed but the view is really of Nothing. I spent most of the day with her but feels like I was just there for a couple of hours. The air was quiet and peaceful. It was low-key but reassuring because mom is communicative and demonstrates a pretty clear understanding of what has happened to her. Her questions are valid and I am happy she is able to ask them even if there aren’t many answers just yet. I was there for her physical therapy today and got the first hand verification that mom can hardly walk but this ability will apparently come back. All testing is now complete and conclusions are being drawn – I wait on the sidelines. This is the Big Deal. There are certainly complications created by what was first described as a mild stroke. Wishful thinking. The stroke is now referred to as “acute” and the loss of blood was from stomach ulcers but the bleeding has stopped. Blood thinners for potential future strokes and bleeding ulcers are a difficult combination for treatment. (I’m learning a lot) I finally had informative, supporting and understandable conversations with doctors which really helps.
The plan for tomorrow is to release mom to a rehab center and luckily it is a part of the complex where she lives. The view outside her window for the last six months at Garden villas has been the Delmar Gardens Rehab center and that’s where she’s will be moved. This is good because she is very familiar with it and there will be people there that she already knows. I am grateful she understands most of the Why’s and What’s of this next transition. She clearly knows that this is what needs to be happening for her.
I’m also grateful that Delmar Gardens will send a wheelchair and van to pick up mom tomorrow. The second major snow storm for the year is predicted to cover the area with as much as 8″ of snow. It’s not a condition I can drive in.