When I arrived to start the day with mom this morning, there were nurses and CNAs all around and in her room. One of them shouted to me, “Wait til you see your mom!! She is talking up a storm!” Sure enough, the CNAs were cleaning mom and primping her (putting on her lipstick and blush) and they and mom were all talking to each other. They were laughing at the comments mom was making. I came in and mom just stared at me. Not too happy to see me! But then, I represent work. Haha! One nurse said that as she left to go home last night, she did one last round and when she came to mom, mom opened her eyes and said, “Hey, where is everybody?” The nurse told her we all were with mom all day and that now we all went home.
I spoke to the building administrator who told me that everyone is so thrilled to have mom back and came to see mom later in the day. I learned that some hospitals will not take a long term patient for care if the hospital finds out that the patient does not have a bed hold at the facility from which he/she came. This is because it could mean that the patient may get “stuck” in the hospital longer than needed if no beds exist. Scary system we have!!
Mom greeted every person who came to her room today. She also talked to everyone.
I spoke to the head of respiratory who was amazed at the results of the shunt. The respiratory therapist asked about mom’s CPAP machine that mom used to use at home and also asked about what pressure setting the machine is on so that they will know how much pressure mom will need approximately when mom gets off the trach totally!! The therapist said that mom will be monitored for a while on the collarless trach (this is not the vent---there isn’t even a vent in the room) and then the trach itself will come out. At that time, mom will remain on the wing she is on until the stoma (the hole in her throat closes) and then she is good to go!! The respiratory therapist (the head person) also asked about what type of shunt mom has. I have to get the information: What type of shunt, the name of it, whether it ever gets replaced, if she needs evaluation… The head of respiratory said that great progress is expected for mom. The head of respiratory asked mom how she feels and mom asked, “How am I supposed to feel?”
The physical therapist came to see mom too. This is a new person to mom. Mom was assessed and then the therapist sat mom up and mom sat on the edge of the bed unsupported and nice and straight too! She sat there for about 10 minutes! The PT person asked mom to move her legs and she managed to move her right leg a bit. Mom had literally just woke up when the PT arrived. Mom did great and I told her so and she looked at me incredulously and said, “I’m not doing anything though.” She is too funny! The PT said that mom would start PT immediately. Mom will be taken to the facility gym for PT now. It all depends on her secretions and whether the head of respiratory feels mom is up to it or not. Anthony did PT with mom and her range of motion as well.
The wound care nurse came to see mom’s sacrum (lower back) wound and the wound looks better already. The nurse prescribed an ointment and a patch. The wound is coming along and is not open as much as it was 2 nights ago.
I cleaned mom’s ears and she became annoyed with me and said, “Kathy, stop it now!” I love that she used my name!!! She yelled at me!!! And I love it!!!
She asked for her glasses and spent time reading her “All About Me” book. Everyone is so thrilled with her progress. People come in and out all morning to see her and talk to her. She even remembers some of them. I sneezed at one point, and mom said, “God bless you.”
The Occupational Therapist came to see mom and gave her a splint-type of thing for her left hand to keep the hand and fingers straight rather than curled. The fingers on her left hand have curled quite a bit despite working on range of motion exercises.
Mom was put on a scopalomene patch for the excess secretions. The secretions are a lot.
Anthony came to see mom and tried hard to get her laugh but only got a few grins. He asked her about sitting on the side of the bed before and said, “I heard you sat on the side of the bed before?” Mom said, “So what?” She is too funny!
The Occupational Therapist came in several times and one of those times, she said that there was a huge discussion up at the nurses’ station about our family. Evidently, she said they were all arguing and saying that they all want our family to care for them if they get sick!! Haha!
Yesterday and today, the speech therapist came to give mom some food. Mom had blue dyed applesauce both days and did fine swallowing it. Mom swallowed slower than before the shunt but did well swallowing. The speech person said that mom would gradually be reintroduced to food. No meals yet. Mom hasn’t tried to drink yet either.
Mom and I worked on the IPAD today. we looked at photos of family and some of the nature shots I took. She named some of the family members and commented that my nature shots were “Oh wow! Beautiful!” Dad came in the afternoon and I left. Mom kissed Anthony goodbye and spoke to Con and Anthony Michael on the phone.
Claudia and Ava came to see mom in the evening to put her to bed. Mom was sleepy and didn't talk much. She had
a busy day. Claudia and Ava wrote on the magnadoodle and mom looked but didn't read anything. Claudia made mom
laugh a few times. Claudia showed mom some pictures she had in her phone and when she showed her a picture of
John's sister and asked who is this, mom said, "Maria." Claudia said, "But we don't call her Maria. What do we call her?"
mom said, "Rie." Ava worked with mom on her ipad with a spin art app and mom seemed interested. She touched the
screen over and over to create a picture. Then Ava showed mom a new app she has about smoothies and she read the
recipes to mom. Mom lifted her eyebrows every so often in approval of the ingredients. (like mmmm sounds good).
Dad left and mom gave him a kiss. Claudia and Ava left after a while and left the Mets game on for mom. They asked her
if she wanted to watch the Mets and mom shook her head "yes". They kissed her good night and left.
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