Sunday, February 3, 2013

Waiting


Hi,

Thank you to those of you who expressed concern about my last post - I really appreciated the support.

I spent last Saturday in the hospital with my mom and one of my sisters.  Mom had been in the hospital for about three weeks and that makes a person go downhill even faster than being sick at home.  She was admitted with the flu and because she had just had major surgery a week prior, the doctors thought it was best to admit her.  Well, it really wasn't the best thing for mom.

After being in the hospital for more than three weeks, she was transported back to her own home last Wednesday and Hospice care had begun.  They have mom set up with everything she needs and now she is surrounded by all the things she loves.  She's lived in that little old house for 51 years and for the last four months has been living with my youngest sister out of necessity.  The doctors have taken mom off all her medications but two, and have lifted all dietary restrictions.  I wish they had done this a long time ago.  There comes a point when throwing pills at an issue just causes more problems.  All the drug interactions and side affects sometimes outweigh the good they are supposed to be doing.

Because her friends are about her age and have their own health problems, it wasn't easy for them to visit mom in the hospital.  Since coming home, they've been able to visit, which has made her very happy.   Mom is quite popular and until she got really sick a few weeks ago, was always on the phone with this friend or that.

Mom said she is ready to go and being home is the way to do it.  She is comfortable and my two sisters are taking care of her, along with the Hospice people - who are amazing, by the way!  Laura and Alissa went up this weekend for a visit.  I haven't called mom yet today, but will  in a while to see how the visit went.  I know she was very happy to see her oldest great granddaughter, who she doesn't get to see nearly enough.

It's a tough thing to watch somebody die - especially somebody you love as much as you do your mother.

Tend those relationships that are important to you while you can.