2018/05/29

Mom. Mom. Mommy. Mom.

Da Goddess @ 16:30

Updates from C today are consistent with the way things seem to go with our family. One minute Mom is improving, the next minute she’s feeling a bit worse. Thankfully, the doctor has no problem keeping her hospitalized until she’s showing a solid pattern of improvement.

I hate being here while she’s there, but crowding into a hospital room while someone is trying to get well wears on them after a while. They can’t escape to go make dinner or cookies, nor can they excuse themselves to go take a nap or read while leaving you to watch TV.

As nice as it is to say you visited someone in hospital, the practice is actually less pleasant for most patients. True story.

Yes, there are times when patients are grateful for visitors, but staying longer than a few minutes can cause them discomfort, especially when they are actively fighting an exhausting disease process.

If you are invited to stay longer than a few minutes, be ready to:

1. Play cards or some other game.
2. Respect the need for privacy when medical personnel come to see the patient.
3. Leave if the patient shows any signs of fatigue.
4. Leave if asked by patient or staff.

If you can’t visit, call only if the patient can talk. Conditions like COPD can make speaking difficult. Instead, send a brief text to let them know you’re thinking of them.

Yeah, so I’m having to send short texts to Mom to let her know she’s on my mind. But, you better believe I’m heading down as soon as I can so I can give her a hug and kiss, tell her to get to gettin’ better, and to see for myself how she’s doing. There are a couple complications on this front, but nothing that can’t be worked around or through.

Until I can get there, I’m grateful for C, D, and J…and Mojo doing everything they can to keep Mom’s spirits up and to keep her focused on getting better.

5 Comments

  1. My best wishes go with you. I have but one 89 yr. old grandparent left. She is my wifes mother and definatly showing a downward slide. I feel most fortunate that we have many family members willing to spend time with her. I come from a large diverse family who have on thing in common, a strong family commitment. I hope that you enjoy a similar family bond.

    Comment by AZDave — 2018/05/29 @ 19:08

  2. AZDave, get that granny telling stories and identifying people in photos! 1) it’s a great way to pass the time. 2) it helps with her mental acuity. 3) she has information that will simpy disappear once she’s gone if she hasn’t shared it.

    I absolutely wish we’d gone through photos with Dad before he died. Mom’s managed to label the vast majority of photos in her collection. But, there are always more stories and more details about our parents’ lives that we miss. So, it’s time to make Mom talk and get as much of her history recorded as possible.

    Our family is quite small. Three of us girls, my two kids, two brothers-in-law, and Mom. I have no idea what’s become of my cousins (they dropped out of the picture after our grandfather died). So, it’s down to just us. While we all end up getting together for holidays most of the time, we girls haven’t really been all that close. Since Dad’s passing, we’re closer. I count that as a very positive development.

    Comment by Da Goddess — 2018/06/17 @ 18:38

  3. Very wise! It’s not a time for people to intrude, even close family, unless one desperately needs cheering up.

    Comment by pam — 2018/05/30 @ 08:26

  4. Thanks to the staff at the hospital, Mom wasn’t lonely or in need of anything. They took great care of her!

    She was there a week and is back home, going at her own pace. This is a very good thing.

    Comment by Da Goddess — 2018/06/06 @ 00:41

  5. That’s great news!!!

    Comment by pam — 2018/06/08 @ 04:46

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