Text 28680, 152 rader
Skriven 2012-08-24 16:58:50 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 28590 av NANCY BACKUS (1:261/1381)
Ärende: Mom
===========
Hi Nancy,

 NB>  NB>> A lot on him... along with the concern for her...

 RH> Very much so, especially the latter. He was speculating about the
 RH> possibility of Mom needing a wheelchair on a permanent basis. If so,
 RH> there's a lot to redo in the house to accomodate one.

 NB> It's a possibility.  They might be able to get some help in funding
 NB> some of the redo, especially in light of the latest incident.  The

Funding is no problem, it's getting my dad to realise it needs to be
done and making arraingements to get it done that is the issue.


 NB> social
 NB> workers at the rehab might be able to help put that together.  I know

Don't know what the local hospital rehab offers in that line. It's a
small town hospital, community owned at one time but sold some years ago
to a larger hospital in Kingston. The larger one runs specialty clinics
up in Margaretville about once a month; I don't know if the rehab folks
are local or from the Kingston hospital.

 NB> that temporary ramps are available at med supply places, and that

Don't think I've seen them at the local ned supply place but I suspect
they could be special ordered. I'd want a permanent ramp tho; one's been
needed for years but my folks have resisted getting one put in.


 NB> there are options for wheelchairs/transport chairs... the latter being
 NB> less
 NB> bulky, so more maneuverable...  Also the "Scooter Store"/hoverchair
 NB> varieties...

Mom can't even use the "ride'em" carts (as I call them) at stores, her
motor co-ordination is not good at all. I doubt Dad would feel
comfortable with her on a scooter/hoverchair.


 NB>  NB>> Physical condition does make a difference, along with the
 NB>  NB>> determination to make a go of the therapy...

 RH> And I don't know what her determination factor is. Talked with her
 RH> yesterday--no therapy on week ends which makes progress even slower.
 RH> She's not interested in books, puzzles, newspapers or anything that
 RH> would stimulate her mind according to Dad; we noticed that last month
 RH> as well.

 NB> Not very promising.  More reason to wonder about stroke... although
 NB> even general senility also could be causing the lack of interest
 NB> there, too...

I'm strongly suspecting the stroke. One good thing about her being in
the hospital--she should be eating a proper diabetic diet. I rough
figured that for breakfast alone she got at least a good 70 (or more)
carbs at home; she should have between 45 and 60 carbs per meal.

 NB>  RH>> Severe rhuematoid arthritis in both knees, old age senility
 NB> (loss of  RH>> memory--not alzheimer's or dementia but not always able
 NB> to
 NB>  RH>> reason/understand/remember) and osteoporosis are the main
 NB> issues.  NB>> That will indeed make recovery more problematic, on
 NB> multiple levels...

 RH> And, as of the end of last week, still not walking.

 NB> Is she afraid to walk, maybe...?

They aren't letting her walk. The only time she puts weight on it is to
transfer from the bed to the potty chair (or a regular one) or to a
wheelchair to go to therapy. We're now half wondering if it was her hip
or her upper femur that broke; last year a friend of ours broke her
upper femur and wasn't allowed to walk on it for several weeks. She
broke it in Peru and was medi-vaced to the States after about 5 weeks.
Six months after the initial break, she had to have the surgery redone
as the area wasn't healing well and the metal rod was giving her
problems.

 NB>  NB>> You can't do everything... and if there are other family members
 NB> and  NB>> friends that can take up some of the load, it's a good
 NB> thing, and less  NB>> need for you to have to be there right now.
 NB> Maybe after Steve
 NB>  NB>> finishes his program, it would be your time/turn to help out...

 RH> That's to be determined; we've helped somewhat before but not on a
 RH> fulltime basis. Right now tho,it's mostly Dad doing everything he can;
 RH> what he can't do, he will call on others to help with.

 NB> And there are others there that can help him with what needs doing,
 NB> which is a good thing.

And for that we are grateful. Deborah and Logan will be visiting for a
few days next month, as will my brother from Florida. Logan will keep
Dad busy. (G)   Don't know if he's still cooking for himself or someone
is doing it for him now.


 NB>  NB>> Have they done a neurological check on her...?  I wonder if she
 NB> might  NB>> have had a minor stroke or something similar when she
 NB> fell...??

 RH> My sister seems to think she had a minor stroke some (unknown) time
 RH> ago. I'm wondering if she did have one in conjunction with the
 RH> fall/break but nothing has been said to indicate one way or the other
 RH> if that is the case. As far as we know, no neurological exam has been
 RH> done either.

 NB> Maybe it could be suggested that such be done sometime soon...?  Or at
 NB> least ask if it has been done (that might get some action if it hasn't
 NB> been done yet).  Given the lack of progress in therapy, it does seem
 NB> to be indicated...

Seems they would think so anyway. I sort of wish I had the name/phone or
e-mail address of her doctor up there so I could find out more about her
status (and not upset Dad).


 NB>  RH>> ... Psalms 18:2 |...God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
 NB>  NB>> Quite appropriate...  :)    Prayers continue, for both your
 NB> parents...

 RH> That's about all we can do right now. The semester started today for
 RH> Steve and my wrist surgery is less than 3 weeks away. The prayers
 RH> are very much appreciated.

 NB> And prayers as well for you and Steve, of course...  :)  Hopefully the
 NB> wrist surgery will make things a lot better for you.  :)

Thanks, it'll be rough for the initial healing but hopefully I'll have
better use in of it (with fewer pain meds) in the future. I've got some
meals stashed in the freezer so Steve will just have to heat them up. He
may get ambitous and bake the ham too.


 NB> ... Love is like marmalade - both sweet and bitter at the same time

And you can get into a jam with it--a pretty sticky situation if you're
not careful. (G)


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... If you focus only on the thorns you will miss the beauty of the rose.

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)