Christmas Newsletter 2008

As much as I despise doing Christmas newsletters, I feel I need to do one this year to update you. It has been very hectic. I will go month by month.

January - calm before the storm.

February - 22nd had emergency visit with Mother’s doctor because of a “rash” on the foot. Turned out to be another pressure ulcer requiring two week hospitalization. During that time we were told she might lose her foot.

March - Mother was dismissed from the hospital on the 6th and given instructions to wear an offloading shoe on that foot until it was healed. On fifth doctors appointment in the next few days, she was admitted to another hospital because the infection had not gone way, and was even worse. Had surgery a couple of times to either amputate or scrape the bone. Amputation not done. Praise God.

April - 7th Mother moved into nursing home for rehab and recovery. More doctor appointments throughout month in which I had to transport her in wheelchair back and forth. Daughter-in-law had another psychotic breakdown requiring a brief stay for evaluation. Daughter had to have outpatient surgery same day daughter-in-law had surgery in Nashville and Mother had doctor appointment.

May - Doctors, doctors, doctors - Mother and Russ both, plus my semi-annual check up. Don’t know how, but was best blood test results ever! On the 22nd Mother was taken to the ER with a violent nose bleed - third in as many days. This one lasted eight hours. She had a shot of Vitamin K, her nose packed, and other measures taken before the bleeding finally stopped. (The nursing home house doctor ordered 5mg. of blood thinner be given to her as she was headed out the door on a stretcher. More about this later.) On the 26th, she was dismissed from the hospital. I refused for her to go back to where that doctor could be in charge of her. She had finished her rehab and was stronger so I moved her out of there and back to her apartment in Jackson House with Home Health nurses continuing as before. The doctor was furious with me for taking her home without his dismissal. I stood toe-to-toe with him and when he said “I want you to know, this woman’s health is now on YOUR shoulders and anything that happens to her if YOUR fault.” To which I replied “She has been my responsibility for several years now and I have not let her nearly bleed to death yet. You have. I willing accept that responsibility. Good Bye! You will not be treating her ever again.” Main computer crashed.

June - More doctors, doctors, doctors for both of them. Learned in carrying paper work back and forth between doctors that Mother had been diagnosed with MRSA and that’s why her foot was still not healed. We were never told that in the hospital or by doctors, but now understood why she always had a private room.

July - Even though Mother had multiple doctors appointments, it was calmer for her. However, Russ started a round of doctors and tests due to unexplained weight loss - eighteen pounds in six weeks. Began seeing doctors we had never heard of and for symptoms never known of before. Drove local women to Nashville for Women’s Conference. Two of them had emergency back in Paducah. Had to arrange transportation for them to return while I stayed in Nashville to drive others back in church van. Son’s wife decided she didn’t want to be married to him any longer after twelve years together. She and her daughters moved out.

August - starting on the 3rd, Mother had more hospital stays. Falling in the bathroom at church she cut her head, requiring an ambulance trip to ER, thirteen stitches in the right forehead, and five days in the hospital. She was sent home with a walker and instructions to use it all the time. On the 11th, she decided to take the garbage across the hallway and drop it in the chute - without her walker! She fell again - in a closed room - and injured the left side of her head. Fortunately the doctors, nurses, and I had been harping on the fact she had a LifeLine pendent and was to use it when needed (had had for years, but never would use because she didn’t want to “bother” them but would crawl across the floor and call me.) She used it this time and after they found her out of her apartment, was treated to another ambulance ride to ER. No stitches this time, but another stay - nine days this time. The same ER doctor was on duty. When he said he was admitting her again, I shrugged my shoulders and said “What can I do with her?” He grinned and said (in his East Indian accent) “Buy her a helmet.” Her primary physician threatened to not treat her any more if she kept falling. Also, during the month, Russ had to do to Nashville for yet another doctor to see him causing Mother to stay in hospital an extra day. Several doctor appointments for Mother following her dismissal the second time. She sure was a colorful sight!

September - After all these months of treatment, infection still rampant. On 5th Mother had to have big toe amputated. Another fall a couple of weeks later but not requiring hospitalization, just x-rays and CT scans. Round of doctors for both. Daughter’s boss resigned elected position due to 2nd DUI in five months. Her job in question as she was hired by him and served “at his pleasure” for fourteen years. Bright spot was her election as President of Kentucky Democratic Women for two year term.

October - repeat of September with exception of daughter’s job - was fired by new appointee. No recourse. Mother declared healed of infection and surgery. Ordered new custom made shoes and she got new hearing aids.

November - More weight loss for Russ. Additional doctors called in. Daughter having more problems; surgery had not corrected ailment. On 29th, daughter’s mother-in-law did not wake up; had no signs of illness. Has two adult retarded daughters that have never been away from her; neither able to feed, clothe, or bathe themselves. All in turmoil and stress.

December - Funeral, helping with “girls”, Jackson House had an apartment fire on the 2nd and everyone evacuated. Mother okay, but shook up and hyper as all get out after being walked down seven flights of stairs. Russ had more tests in Louisville on the 5th; doctor found large polyp (proved to be non-cancerous) in pancreatic duct. It was removed and a stint placed there for removal sometime in January.

So the story goes on – This is complete as of December 11, 2008. Only God knows what the rest of the year will bring.

May God bless you all with a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

MILTON DRAMA

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Kevin - our son
Beth - his wife
Taylor and Brittney - Beth's daughters
Susanna - our daughter
Jamie - her husband
Matt and Danielle - their children
Grammy - my mother
Russ - my husband

SCENE 1 - ACT 1
Time - Friday
Russ and I are still waiting for a call from the heart surgeon to set an appointment to see if he is willing to undertake this newest procedure on Russ.

SCENE 2 - ACT 1 and 2
Time - Saturday
After a day of trying to catch up on all chores that have been neglected the past week, I settle down to watch a little TV before going to bed. Just as I am relaxing, the phone rings. Picking it up I hear Kevin's voice. "How's dad? How's things going?" During the ensuing call lasting about 20 minutes, I learn Kevin and Beth have already separated and he's okay with this. He explains it has been talked about and planned for the last several weeks. In fact, papers have already been drawn up dividing property and such. He did not want to "worry" us because of his dad's health problems. Beth and Taylor have moved into Brittney's apartment with her. Taylor is okay because she gets to live with "Sissy" again and besides - there is a swimming pool. I know Kevin loves these girls as if they are his own and they love him just as much. I ask about how Taylor is. I am told she is okay and will continue to go to school at her old school because she will spend a couple of nights a week with Kevin and show that as her residence. Knowing that Beth is schizophrenic, I ask about her and how she is handling this. Since this is her 4th - yes, fourth - divorce, she is fine and it is her idea. She wants a husband who will stay at home and spend time with her. On the other hand, Kevin is like his dad - a workaholic. In addition to his more than full time job, he has a lawn mowing business with 19 yards to care for every week. The call ends with Kevin telling me to "share the news tomorrow. I haven't told anyone about this until now."

I learned I had a meeting at 1:00 PM Sunday to pick up my packet for this years bowling league duties as secretary. I want to drive separately so Russ doesn't have to hurry and eat and then wait for however long the meeting takes. He rejects this idea because of the cost of gas. I think this is a bad idea, but he won't budge.

SCENE 3 - ACT 1, 2, 3 ----
Time - Sunday
Waiting until after church service is over to tell about Kevin, I walk down the hallway to get in the car. Mother is headed for the restroom as usual. This time Danielle goes with her - odd! Just as I reach the hallway which houses the restrooms, Danielle appears in the doorway and matter-of-factly says "Grammy fell again. She's hurt. She's bleeding" then disappears back into the restroom. This is a familiar scene for me, so I turn and set down my Bible and purse and head in to see what's happened. Susanna follows behind. As I open the interior door, I see Mother laying on the floor in a pool of blood and rolling around trying to get up. I turn to Susanna and say "Call an ambulance." Then I proceed to get paper towels and wet them to wipe her forehead and determine the injury. It is a gash just above the eyebrow where her glasses frames have dug into the flesh as she fell. No other injuries are apparent. She keeps saying "I'm okay. I'm not hurt" as she tries to get up. I keep telling her to lay still she has a cut on her head. I'm not sure whether she wasn't listening to me or didn't believe me. Susanna goes outside and gets Jamie to help us. Thankfully, no other women were in the restroom at that point. Jamie helps hold her down and talks with her as Susanna exchanges clean paper towels for the bloody ones. I truly thought at one point Jamie was going to sit on her to keep her down! On one of my trips out the two doorways to check on the ambulance, I finally find Russ and tell him what's going on. He is talking and doesn't listen to me. I notice Matt backed up against the wall. No other family members were with this 8 year old, and his eyes are wide open, but he's not moving a muscle. He is straight as a stick and uncommonly quiet. (I later checked on him and he was okay, just staying out of the way.)

When the ambulance arrives, we learn quickly the women's restroom was not designed for a stretcher to gain entrance. The two doors are at a 90 degree angle to each other. The attendants did a good job of getting into the area, got Mother on a backboard and put a neck brace on her. Because she was still trying to get up, they also strapped the neck brace down. Upon trying to exit, a larger problem developed - getting the stretcher out with her on it. They had tilted it to enter; when they tilted it to leave, this caused her to slide and the neck brace started choking her. He dentures were coming out of her mouth. One of the attendants cut the tape holding the brace in place, but the problem of exiting still existed. After several frustrating minutes and a few scratches on the door frames, they managed to get out. I rode with them to the hospital. Russ followed in his car. Since I did not have any other transportation, he had to sit around the ER with us and wait. This is definitely a new experience for him and not one he wants to repeat!

CT scans, blood work, and X-rays provide the information no bones are broken, her blood is too thin, and a slight "wetness" around the heart - indicating congestive heart failure. The doctors and nurses are amazed and continue asking "did she get dizzy or pass out?" I answer no to both questions. I explain she is prone to falls. Danielle said she just walked through the door and "fell face forward - flat out." This is the first major injury she has ever received that way. In the past she has gotten bumps on the head, but never a cut. The doctor places three stitches inside the wound and then has to use six stitches to close the wound. Though not broken, her glasses are twisted a little. I straighten them up to where she can put them on, but her nose is swelling and they begin to hurt. Because of the blood being too thin, the decision is made to keep her overnight and do another CT scan in the morning. She is given a injection of Lasix to get rid of the fluid; she is then sit into a transport chair to wait for a nurse to move her to a room. After about 30 minutes, she is needing to go to the bathroom - badly. When the nurse arrives, she is about to burst. We decide that is bad timing. In the morning, if there is no change in the CT scan, she is to be dismissed from the hospital.

THE END???