Mom went to the neurologist today for her check up. Claudia greeted him with such excitement and told him we couldn’t wait until he saw mom!!! He was amazed!! He laughed and giggled and smiled!!! He said, “Dotty! You look good!” Mom said, “Thank you.” He said, “How are you?” Mom said, “I’m fine thank you.” Then the doctor said, “Welcome Back!! How does it feel to be back again?” Mom said, “Welcome back? How does it feel? Well, do you mean how does it feel to be back in the world of reality?” And we all lost it and cried and laughed--- even the neurologist!!!! Mom knew the name of the month, could lift her arms, legs…and follow all his commands. He was impressed with all she could do with her left leg. He tested her vision and thinks she may have lost some peripheral vision. He ordered a CAT Scan to see how things look in her head, and a scan of her carotid arteries (just to check things out there), and an evaluation for botox for her left hand to help the rheumatoid arthritis there (Claudia and I heard about this at the conference we attended). He actually interviewed mom one to one!!! And she was able to answer the questions!! He was amazed at her progress and told her it was the shunt and the great love, dedication and perseverance he had witnessed in her family that brought her back. But seriously, “To God Be The Glory” because it is only by His Almighty Hand that mom is healed.
I arrived at mom at 7:40 this morning…breakfast trays were just being distributed. Mom was asleep and fighting with me verbally to stay that way. She kept getting nasty (this is a first since the stroke!) and telling me to leave her alone. She actually yelled at me very loudly twice. Thank God she’s back!!!! Hahahah! Mom and I reviewed some events from yesterday once she was awake and began to eat breakfast. She remembered that Aunt Carol went to Montauk yesterday but forgot who she went with. Dad called and mom talked to him and then I said that dad has ants in his pants and mom said, “Oh really…and who takes after him?” I said Claudia but mom said, “No, YOU do!” JoAnn called. Mom called her yesterday and left a message asking what state JoAnn was in. JoAnn told mom this morning that she was in the “State of Confusion” just to see if mom got the joke and mom said, “So why does she think she should be different from anyone else?” Mom was in a feisty mood today. Strong with her needs and wants. She asked to use the bathroom and when I said I would call the CNAs to get the bed pan, mom said, “How much longer do I have to use that thing?!” I explained again that she would use it until she could walk and/or stand with a walker. Mom said she did all that already --- walk and stand. I asked when and she said the last time she was there. The bed pan they put under mom is plastic and bent and deformed from use. I asked if a metal pan is better to use but was told I have to get the approval of maintenance. I will do that today. One nurse said that a metal bed pan would cut mom’s skin but in reality, the bent, wrinkled, broken plastic one is doing just that!! No one delivered diapers to mom’s room yesterday or today either. The diapers are usually delivered each day (a ration of them). The short staffing on this unit is awful!! There are 2 CNAs for I don’t know how many patients.
Mom ate all her breakfast with a vengeance and I teased her and said she ate like she is going to the electric chair!! Hahaha! She laughed. She ate a hard boiled egg, oatmeal with vanilla milk, orange juice (had to coax her to drink it all), coffee with vanilla milk, and a bagel with butter and cream cheese.
After breakfast, I gave mom the squeeze balls to use. She practiced squeezing the ball (about a 3in. ball) with her left hand. She practiced for over a ½ hour. I told her to both squeeze AND to open and close the hand as well.
I found out this morning, that mom’s roommate is on a different medication now and is quieter at night. We’ll see. I also found out that the doctor put mom on antibiotics for the colonized UTI that she has!!!!!! UGH!!!!! I told the nurse and the nurse said a call to the doctor would go out today.
The aide and nurse got mom dressed and then we went down to the lounge so that the aide could clean up mom’s room and make the bed. Anthony came next and mom lit up! He told her they were going to work on exercising. Mom said she was afraid she would fall. Anthony reassured her but he also kidded with her and told her, “No sweat! If you fall I’ll fall on you so you’ll cushion my fall.” Anthony and mom boxed!! Mom laughed. Anthony worked extensively on mom’s legs. Then he had mom do arm lifts using the 2 lb weight we bought. Anthony told mom to be sure to work both arms or she’d end up with one arm like a gorilla and the other like a toothpick!! Mom laughed. Mom did repetitive arm lifts and curls for counts of 10 each time and using each arm—though the left arm was definitely more confined in range of motion. Anthony said he would buy mom a Richard Simmons tape and he and mom could “Sweat to the Oldies!!” One joke after another---mom laughed and laughed.
Mom went to PT next. She didn’t do so well today. She did try to do some bridges (lift butt up while on back and knees bent). She also stood with the walker again. Mom is sort of out of sorts since she had 2 doses of antibiotics. The nurse already contacted the doctor and had the antibiotics discontinued! Thank God! Mom will only be treated if we see symptoms.
Mom had fun today opening a bag of goodies from cousins Lori, Ralph, Madison and Spencer! She enjoyed looking at what they sent (lotion, crossword puzzle books, angels –one says our theme: Don’t quit 5 minutes before the miracle happens---and piggies!). Mom also received a letter and card from her cousin, Joan, who mom grew up with. Joan also sent a picture board of pictures of her and mom when they were babies, children, and young ladies and now!! Mom loved them!
Mom had Chicken Ceasar salad for lunch with garlic bread and did well with it!! She also had coffee, juice and pudding. Mom does great with feeding herself!!! Almost no spills at all!!
After the neurologist, dad and mom went back to the facility and sat outside. Mom loves to do this. Claudia came tonight to put mom to bed. Mom ate a turkey and cheese sandwich on rye bread for dinner. Claudia and mom worked together on many tasks, and at one point, Claudia showed mom a piece of a batman picture and mom knew who it was a picture of. They talked afterwards and mom told Claudia: “I don’t like this time of night” Claudia said, “I know mom why?” Mom said, “Everybody goes home to clean their kitchen…” Claudia said, “I know mom but somebody is always here at this time from your family” Mom said, “Yeah, I’m a nuisance” and laughed. Claudia said, “When we leave you need to sleep. Close your eyes and sleep.” Mom asked why. Claudia said, “Because you need to be strong in the morning for PT and exercise and work. You need to be strong for that.” Then, Claudia said, “Mom, what’s the goal? What’s the ultimate goal for you?” (Claudia didn’t think mom could answer her)…Mom said, “To walk out of here!!”
“And now look how the LORD has blessed you” Genesis 26:29
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