Mom’s update Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
I started the day with mom and I brought her low fat turkey kielbasa. She smelled and said, “Ooooh what’s that?” I told her and I thought she was going to make a face when she heard “turkey” kielbasa but she didn’t. She was happy. I gave her the scrambled eggs that came with breakfast and the kielbasa and she ate it all. The speech therapist came in to check to see if she was on all thin liquids because she changed her care plan. Mom had normal decaf coffee from Dunkin Donuts today with no thickener! She loved every drop. Then an OT came in who hasn’t seen her since she was on the vent and before the operation. She just returned to the facility and when she saw mom’s name she wanted to go upstairs to see her. She was amazed! Mom lifted both arms followed commands and had a conversation with her. We have been trying to give her protein in the morning so she doesn’t crash. We noticed that if she eats carbs like pancakes or waffles and syrup she falls asleep. We made a few phone calls and she read the paper in the morning. She asked me when was the storm because there was an article about the flooding. Then Anthony came and he showed me how she can lift both legs. Mom was taken for a shower so Anthony and I stepped out.
Anthony returned after her shower and lunch came. The speech therapist came in to monitor how she was doing with thin liquids. They sat down in a room down the hall and looked out the window and mom commented on the trees and what flowers they had. Anthony also had her pull on the arms of the wheel chair to sit up straight. After lunch they talked because it took a long time for her to eat. The therapist came to take her to physical therapy. Anthony said to try hard in therapy and mom said I always try hard.
John and Ava came in the evening and mom was in the rec room with other residents watching TV. When she saw them she told them she wanted to leave and go home. They wheeled her to the room and she was very upset and told them she wanted her blue makeup box and no one is bringing it to her. It is luggage and I am afraid that if we bring it she will say, OK time to go I have my luggage! I am bringing it tomorrow for her. Maybe there is something in there that she wants but can’t tell us. They distracted her for a while but then she said she wanted her daughter Claudia and that Claudia is the one that puts her to bed. I told them I would go but the said they would work with her to calm her down. After dinner they took mom past the computer room and then outside. They said it was nice out and she wanted to go out. They also felt it would be a distraction. When they wheeled her through the door mom saw a man that looked like my dad’s cousin who past away last year while mom was in the facility. Mom doesn’t know he past away. John freaked out and called me but I told him she says that all the time. It is just a matter of time before she asks how “Ralphie” is. (That’s who he looks like) We all don’t know what to do about this. I may consult my friends who are social workers and see what they say. They played I spy and mom said I spy with my little eye something black and white (Ava’s pocketbook) and Ava said, “My dad’s hair” and mom laughed! Mom even guessed when Ava said I spy something gray (her pants). John took mom on a walk outside along the sidewalk and mom saw the handicap ramp and said, "OK, so pull up the car and I'll get in." Ava was teasing her father by saying when she moves to Brooklyn she is getting a tattoo and mom agreed! She actually said get your father’s face on your shoulder! John freaked! He said, “Hey this isn’t funny, there is no tattoo!” Later mom said, “So seriously Ava are you getting a tattoo on your shoulder?” John did not find this funny. John said she was very talkative. When they were getting ready to leave John said he might come tomorrow because he is off and mom said, “Don’t go out of your way.” She was calm by the time they left. Ava kissed her goodnight and mom said, “Promise me you won’t forget me?” There’s not much more to say after that…
Forget her? Little does she know how many lives she has already touched…
Peace and be well my friends,
~Claud
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