Lenny began the day with mom this morning. He said that mom woke right up and was very alert and talkative. Lenny said that mom complained of back pain almost immediately so Lenny tried to make her laugh and said, “It’s OK Nonny. It’s safe—I’m not gonna make you work and Aunt Claud and mom are not here!” Mom laughed and said, “Oh stop!!” Lenny said just like she used to. They talked and talked for a long while (something Lenny and all of us have missed for so long!). Mom talked out loud a few times too. At one point, Lenny said that mom kept feeling the back of her head and Lenny said “What’s wrong Nonny?” Mom replied, “There’s hair missing! Why?” Lenny said it was Ok and that it was just from her surgery. Mom said, “It looks terrible” (wow, is that a “mom” comment!) and Lenny assured it that it doesn’t look terrible. When mom’s CNA came in to give mom a shower, mom made a face and when Lenny asked her what the “face” was about, mom smiled and said, “Because!” and laughed.
When I arrived, mom had just been brought back from physical therapy, though I didn’t see her or the therapist bring her back (so I don’t have details yet)…but mom was sound asleep in the wheelchair. I let her sleep. While she sleeps, she doesn’t cough—thank God. She still coughs quite a bit on and off when she is awake though. I will find out why.
The respiratory therapist told me that as soon as mom wakes up and is alert again, MOM GETS HER TRACH CAPPED!!!! This is a huge step!! For one thing, mom will be able to speak audibly!! For another thing, mom will be breathing ALL ALONE with no oxygen or anything!!! PTL!!!! I can’t wait!!
The aides and staff workers all love mom so much. Many of them scold me for not keeping her what they think is warm enough or with the right pillows or at the right comfort level!! They all are too cute. Mom is covered in and surrounded by so much love. Mom’s new roommate is a challenge though. This poor person is not very appropriate at times and is often totally exposed (nude from waist down) from removing her covers… I have to continually get someone to cover her back up. We all have to pass her on the way to mom’s bed so there is no way to ignore her. Her TV is constantly on and LOUD…and on silly, inappropriate stations (some are upsetting even). Lord help me to love on her too.
Dad brought mom some roses yesterday and mom said, “Ohhh…how beautiful!!” Somethng new now is that mom wants privacy at private times again. Once mom was finished with her nap, she was put back into bed and then the respiratory person came to cap off her trach!! They just capped the trach and dad and I and the respiratory therapist gathered round mom as she spoke her first word: “HALLELUJAH!!!” The therapist began to do the “Happy Dance” and dad and I cried! Mom did great breathing with no assistance at first for about 10 minutes!! She began to panic a bit after that and said, “I can’t breath!” I reassured her and stroked her hair and told her I would make “snaps” in her hair and she smiled broadly in fond recognition. Mom cleared her throat a lot and when she coughed 3 times, she popped the cap off the trach! I joked with her about how she reminded me of a blow spout on a whale or that she could aim at someone and shoot! Then she needed the oxygen plugs at her nostrils because the trach in her throat now is too large. The size of the trach tube will need to be changed soon. I distracted mom with conversation about my jewelry…and it worked in calming her down. She breathed well. Mom also said, “I love you Kathy” and “I love you” to dad. Watching mom’s reactions of love toward dad is so cute to watch—it’s like she is in love with him all anew! Mom stayed with the trach capped for 1 ½ hours!! She concentrated on breathing more than she did talking while capped. Dad said that by 4:30 mom fell out like a light and slept straight through until he tucked her in for the night and left around 6:45 p.m.
"He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person." Genesis 2:7
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