A quick update...
Claudia came up with the great idea to take mom upstate to Cohoes NY to see the play, Sunset Boulevard, which Jean has a role in (he was wonderful, by the way!!!). So....as we now sing since Ava directed the play HONK last spring---"We're offffffff!!! on a wild goose chase!!!" Terry, Dad, Mom, Claudia and I embarked "on a wild goose chase!" The good times did, indeed, roll!
Only Claudia would come up with such an idea as this AND investigate all the details as well. She researched hotels in the area and found one with a fully handicap accessible room and shower and everything! Claudia and dad packed up a huge 'foam wedge' for her head to be inclined in bed, along with metal bed rails, her clothes and extras... and early Saturday morning, we left in 2 vehicles to make the trip. Mom did great!! We are all big on 'books on tape' and Claudia played "Camp Wobegone" in her car with mom and dad. Mom loved it. It took us more than several hours to get there (typically a 3 hour drive, it took us about 5 with some stops along the way). We stopped a few times, but really just to be safe, not so much that mom needed to stop.
We ate out---mom loved it. Mom loved Jean's acting and the show!!! What a professional production....we all are so proud of him. Sunday morning, after breakfast, we decided to surprise mom and bring her to her and dad's property upstate. Mom recognized the towns along the way and was so glad to be at the 'property' and their trailer!! Mom also saw the local Sheriff who she and dad have known for almost 35 years now and he was thrilled to see her and she him!! Mom also saw her dear friend, Pastor Dot as well!!! The reunion was wonderful!
It's funny, because sometimes, mom is so lucid and present, while at other times, she is really far off. One minute while we were upstate, mom was whining like a 3 year old, literally, that she doesn't want a shower and doesn't see the need for one now when she had one yesterday.... and the next minute she was surveying all the equipment we brought with us for her (thanks again to CLaudia---who even continued to make a list of 'things mom needs when she goes away') asking if we remembered to write off all the additional medical costs in items she now needs for her care in her tax return!!! Such is the nature of a head injury.
I am currently reading Jodi Picoult's newest book, Lone Wolf, which is about life support and making the decision to keep a loved one on life support or not. So as mom and I sat in the lobby of the hotel with Claudia, I said, "Mom, before you had the aneurysm burst and the stroke, you had signed papers saying that you never wanted to be on life support or a vent. Do you remember that?" Mom said, "Oh yes, and I WAS on a ventilator for a long time." I then told her that dad and I decided not to abide by her original wishes and to keep her alive and then I asked, "So how do you feel about that now? Do you still feel the same way, that you wouldn't want to be on life support or a vent?" Mom quickly replied, "Oh NO!! Do it, do it!!! I want to live as long as I can!!!" then she giggled and said, "I want to be around a long while so I can be a nuisance to my friends and family longer!!" Claudia then asked, "Mom, what about your quality of life now? Are you happy?" Mom said, "I like that people do things for me now and I don't have to. And I like having my friends and family visit me and stay with me, but that's it, but that's enough. Yes, I'm happy. I want to be with all my friends and family." I thank God that we still have the opportunity to make memories together.
Amen.
"but life is at work in you" 2 Corinthians 4:12
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