October 5, 2010

Day 39 ... I walked into Mom's room about 12:30pm where I found her sitting in her chair dozing... she soon woke and told me she'd been sitting up since 10am. I could see the Upper GI tube had been removed and she informed me they'd removed the epidural pain control device as well, changing her to a 'clicker' type hand-held device. She said she'd been visited by the Ostomy Nurse who'd left her 'homework' to do which consisted of an easy to follow manual and practice device. While her Nurse was getting Mom ready to go for a walk, I glanced through her manual. The section on 'foods to avoid' caught my eye... it listed foods which have the greatest potential for causing gas or intensifying smell... Hmmmmmmm I told Mom I might need a copy of this passage, it could be useful around my house! =D

Mom happily told me of her earlier visit from Dr. Zane, "He told me I was progressing ahead of schedule!" She also said she'd told Dr. Zane her 'secret name' for Dr. Haas... She said, "He laughed out loud and told me I got it right on the nose! But then I asked him not to tell Dr. Haas because I didn't want to hurt his feelings... Then he chuckled and told me not to worry but we'd talk more later" ;-) Then, with the help of her Nurse, Mom walked almost all the way up one side of the hall and back! That's our Mom!!

After her lap, the Nurse got her situated back in bed and we got to work... Repeated some of what we did yesterday and added overhead lifts, chest presses and rotator cuff conditioning. Now Mom has her 'workout bag' with her 2 lb Fitness ball, her Air-ball and Therapeutic band. Her Nurse commented, "I've never, ever seen a patient with their own Personal Trainer on this floor!" :-) Mom's determined to get stronger, both Monica and Jeanette told me how she showed them her exercises when they came in.... :-/ I just hope when I go in tomorrow she's not sore! I distinctly remember telling her, "Take it slow... baby steps, exercise common sense first!" We'll see, we'll see...

Mom also mentioned how she'd like to have her cell phone nearby... So the time had come to update her on Barbara's situation. Haven't blogged on this before now, but while Mom was in surgery last Friday we received a phone call from the Glendale Memorial Hospital Patient Facilitator looking for Mom because they were preparing Barbara for medical transport to another facility. They told us Glendale Memorial Hospital was a Short Term Acute Care Facility and Barbara's current medical condition warranted a Long Term Acute Care Facility. They said her convalescent facility was not capable of the level of care she needed at this time and they were preparing her for transport to a long term acute care facility located in Monrovia, CA. All they were waiting for was Mom's consent and Medical Authorization. We explained how Mom was undergoing major surgery at the moment of their call and they accepted our 'familial consent' in the meanwhile... Status as of today, Barbara's transport is currently 'on hold' because her fever had spiked the day before. Today her temperature has been normal all day and they were waiting for her doctor to come in.

Sooooooooo with Mom stronger, coming along nicely so far and now wanting her cell phone back it was time to bring her up to date... Mom was misty eyed but I told her, "Mom, we can't have you stressing over this and going two steps back for every step forward... We've got our Logistical Team in place and everything will be handled. You've got to allow us to be your Logistical Team when it comes to Barbara right now and you need to focus on getting stronger and healthier" She said, "You're right and the Long Term Acute Care Facility in Monrovia is where Barbara needs to be... and I need to focus on getting healthy!"

Just when you think Mom might 'fall apart' she surprises you and becomes a Supreme example of strength, determination and focus ... She is a gift!! xoxoxo...