Today was an emotionally packed milestone day for us and for mom....
Today was pack the room and move day (for the 6th time!!!)!!! I began the day early this morning with mom. She was sleeping soundly.I let her sleep. Then, when she stirred a bit, I said hello and asked her to wake up. She told me to go away and smiled and went back to sleep! Dad arrived shortly thereafter followed by Anthony, Anthony Michael, and Samantha. We have the room moving down to a science now. I take pictures of the shelves, pictures on the walls...so that, when we reset up the room, I look at the pictures as a guide to know where things go. My brother said I'm crazy!!! OK I admit I am...but it does cut down on time dramatically and it does work well! Samantha sat next to mom and said, "Nonny, wake up" and mom opened her eyes and smiled sweetly at her and said good morning! The magic of a grandchild! haha! We began to pack up the room (we basically have a mini classroom in mom's room...it is filled with puzzles, games, dvd players and recorders, tools, equipment, and all sorts of learning materials...in addition to pictures that cover every part of her walls---pictures of family, friends, headshots of all of us with our names underneath, mom and dad's house and yard...and pictures...). Between us all, it took about an hour to pack the room. "Many hands make light the work." Mom asked what we were doing and why, so we reminded her about the move again and celebrated the move as progress and a graduation toward being one step closer to home. Mom was excited and happy. She was in a great mood. Once mom was dressed and in the chair, we moved her to the lounge and computer room, she told us she wanted to go for a walk. We sat in the computer room and reintroduced mom to the computer. She didn't know what to do and couldn't remember her screen name or password, but she knew what the computer was. No one knew what room mom would be moved to or where she was going....just that we had to be packed and ready to move by noon today.
Finally, around 11:00 a.m., we were told where to move mom and her things. Upstairs we went....amidst happy/sad faces and some tears. I know I've said it before but this is worth saying again: When you don't quit, when you don't give up, when you make what you're doing a challenge...eventually, everyone around you wants in" Mom left the respiratory wing and went upstairs with us. We unpacked her room lickety split. The room is small but bright and cheerful. We were supposed to have a team meeting up there but it never happened. We met one nurse who was very busy and cranky and abrupt...but whatever. We didn't meet or see any CNAs up there yet. Mom was put into the REHAB wing of the facility. She had OT today and did well. They did some cognitive therapy like color recognition and mom did well. Mom also pulled a shirt on over her head too. Mom had speech next and did some oral motor exercises (sticking out her tongue, puckering her lips...things we do on the IPAD with her), and she fed herself some pudding and drank some juice. Next, mom had PT but was tired by then...Sammy said they said she didn't do so well because she kept falling asleep on and off. She isn't sleeping well at night. I am sure it is the UTI (urinary tract infection). We get the results tomorrow. Mom had a roommate by the end of the day...an older woman who was quite upset and yelling for help. Dad got the nurse for her.
When I left mom, her old CNA was with us in the new room and sitting beside mom...loving on her. I kissed the aide good bye and began to cry so much. Then I went downstairs to check her old room and saw her old nurse and kissed and hugged and cried again. It was so emotional for us all. Sammy said it felt like the first day of school. Anthony said it felt weird too. Dad said he can't wait until we pack mom up to bring her home. He said he is going to have a huge open house party when mom comes home.
Mom is a living miracle. Truly. And over the course of the last 13 1/2 months, many people have been a part of that miracle. Some worked at the facility, some visited mom, some supported all of us family members, some faithfully prayed...but many, many people were a part of the miracle. The life journey mom has been on has been a tumultuous one with many ups and downs. At times, it was hard not to lose sight of what the miracle was...it wasn't always about bringing mom back, so much as it was about giving back to mom. And you know what, mom's progress wasn't the only miracle that occurred. Lives were changed by watching and caring for mom. Many lives in many places. It wasn't always about her progress, sometimes it was all about the love that surrounded her. Sometimes, in her state of a coma, or silent sleep thereafter, the miracle was all about people rising to the best person they could be as they encountered mom...us included. It was all always a matter of perspective...a matter of shifting our lenses in order to bless the ground that others have cursed. Because of mom and what happened to her, we all were privy to seeing a slice of heaven on earth each day, a bit of God and His Love in each other before our eyes each day.
"...in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15
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