Mom Update
Dec. 31st, 2005 09:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisPolly called me about 12:30 to say that they were going to admit Mom so she could be seen by an orthopedic surgeon.
She called again about 3:30 with more details. None of them any good. She was clearly stressed. Of course, having to make all the decisions and having the responsibility for someone who's not yours will do that to you. Mom had been admitted and her shoulder had been wrapped up and taped up and she was fairly comfortable.
The ER people said that she broke her shoulder and it was a nasty break. Mom has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. Basically breathing is not her best talent. This makes her a really bad candidate for surgery. Translation: surgery will probably kill her. One of the nurses in the ER also explained to Polly that the location of her injury will make breathing painful so she won't try as hard which will probably kill her.
And Polly was worried that DNR instructions had not followed Mom and were not on her chart. And that Mom's doctor is not on call until Sunday. And she wanted one of us (family member) there.
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Polly just called with an update and things are sounding MUCH better. And Polly sounds better. Whew. Meanwhile my brother has offered up my sister-in-law who's out of town right now. He checked flights and knows that as soon as she hears the news she will want to be on a plane. She is the kind of person that Mom is most comfortable around when she needs health help. My sister finally chimed in just now to say that she would go if need be.
But, the main news is that there may be a reason that one or both can really be of help (and not just to clean up the pieces)!
The orthopedic surgeon is very optimistic that he can fix her without killing her. Ya gotta love that attitude in your surgeon. He explained it all to Mom and told her that he could do the surgery on Monday and she said 'Let's do it!'. They have taken her off her blood thinner so she'll be all ready. He told her she would be the second surgery on Monday. According to Polly, she piped right up with 'well, who's first?! you tell my daughter and she'll fix that and I'll be first!' Polly said she had the surgeon, the nurse and the nurses aid rolling on the floor.
The DNR thing is fixed. Polly is going over to get the legal papers (power of attorney, etc) today and Mom's favorite hospital blanket.
I talked to Mom myself and she sounded groggy but in full possession of all her marbles. She said she did not have this in her plans but that they would fix it and she'd get better and it will just take time. I asked her if she wanted me to share her phone number with everyone - if I send it in email to my brother and sister and sister-in-law, they will all want to call and was she up for that and she said that would be fine but thanks for asking.
I inherited her thin, crappy hair, her pair shape, her sense of humor. I did not inherit her patience with all this medical crap, her patience with people in general, her desire to keep on keepin' on regardless of what it takes. (I also did not inherit her tennis skills but that's a different list.)
So things are looking much better... I'm thinking all those great LJ comments made a huge dif. Thanks.
She called again about 3:30 with more details. None of them any good. She was clearly stressed. Of course, having to make all the decisions and having the responsibility for someone who's not yours will do that to you. Mom had been admitted and her shoulder had been wrapped up and taped up and she was fairly comfortable.
The ER people said that she broke her shoulder and it was a nasty break. Mom has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. Basically breathing is not her best talent. This makes her a really bad candidate for surgery. Translation: surgery will probably kill her. One of the nurses in the ER also explained to Polly that the location of her injury will make breathing painful so she won't try as hard which will probably kill her.
And Polly was worried that DNR instructions had not followed Mom and were not on her chart. And that Mom's doctor is not on call until Sunday. And she wanted one of us (family member) there.
--------------
Polly just called with an update and things are sounding MUCH better. And Polly sounds better. Whew. Meanwhile my brother has offered up my sister-in-law who's out of town right now. He checked flights and knows that as soon as she hears the news she will want to be on a plane. She is the kind of person that Mom is most comfortable around when she needs health help. My sister finally chimed in just now to say that she would go if need be.
But, the main news is that there may be a reason that one or both can really be of help (and not just to clean up the pieces)!
The orthopedic surgeon is very optimistic that he can fix her without killing her. Ya gotta love that attitude in your surgeon. He explained it all to Mom and told her that he could do the surgery on Monday and she said 'Let's do it!'. They have taken her off her blood thinner so she'll be all ready. He told her she would be the second surgery on Monday. According to Polly, she piped right up with 'well, who's first?! you tell my daughter and she'll fix that and I'll be first!' Polly said she had the surgeon, the nurse and the nurses aid rolling on the floor.
The DNR thing is fixed. Polly is going over to get the legal papers (power of attorney, etc) today and Mom's favorite hospital blanket.
I talked to Mom myself and she sounded groggy but in full possession of all her marbles. She said she did not have this in her plans but that they would fix it and she'd get better and it will just take time. I asked her if she wanted me to share her phone number with everyone - if I send it in email to my brother and sister and sister-in-law, they will all want to call and was she up for that and she said that would be fine but thanks for asking.
I inherited her thin, crappy hair, her pair shape, her sense of humor. I did not inherit her patience with all this medical crap, her patience with people in general, her desire to keep on keepin' on regardless of what it takes. (I also did not inherit her tennis skills but that's a different list.)
So things are looking much better... I'm thinking all those great LJ comments made a huge dif. Thanks.
