Dear So and So

[indysteel]

Catrin,

It doesn't sound like an easy situation. I imagine it's very difficult to walk that delicate line with someone facing a serious illness between being postive/optimistic while not dismissing their very real and legitimate fears. I feel for the spot you're in.

[Catrin]

DO talk to the nurses, Catrin. I have been doing that daily. And now that D has been diagnosed with a temporary vocal chord paralysis, i will be bothering them even more.

I will talk about this with my sister as I am no longer in Tennessee I didn't think about this until today but Mom said a few things to me on the phone yesterday that had me concerned.

[Catrin]

Catrin,

It doesn't sound like an easy situation. I imagine it's very difficult to walk that delicate line with someone facing a serious illness between being postive/optimistic while not dismissing their very real and legitimate fears. I feel for the spot you're in.

It is a hard line to walk at the best of times, but this is a situation where her worse nightmares seem to be coming to life and it is just heart breaking to watch. My sister is better at talking to her in such times because she has been around her entire life. I am the eldest daughter who won't live close by (for good reasons) and comes for visits.

Time to get back to work...

[OakLeaf]

Oh boy, Catrin, this sounds so much like my dad's situation right now, except that my mom's around. Hugs all around.

[Pax]

(((Catrin))) Well wishes and positive vibes going out to you, your mom, and family. A very difficult situation made harder by distance.

[Owlie]

((Catrin))

[Crankin]

Catrin, I am really sorry about your mom.
Call the nurses. I am sure they are used to speaking to family members.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I am really sorry about your mom.
Call the nurses. I am sure they are used to speaking to family members.

[Catrin]

I just heard, she finally gets to come home tomorrow! I think she will still be on oxygen if I understood correctly but she gets to finally leave the hospital. There were some scares last night with a chest x-ray but they re-did it this afternoon and are happier with the results.

[indysteel]

That's great to hear, Catrin. I hope she continues to improve.

[solobiker]

That is great news Catrin! Is she going to be having any home health?
If so they can help he with some of the things you mentioned above.

[Catrin]

That is great news Catrin! Is she going to be having any home health?
If so they can help he with some of the things you mentioned above.

I don't know what my sister is working out with the hospital, at least not yet. She is the one on the ground, so to speak, our mother lives with her. She is talking with the care coordinator at the hospital to figure out how to get her into the house - there are stairs...

[OakLeaf]

Both my parents, one of the criteria for their being released to home from prior surgeries was when they could climb stairs. They typically work on that in OT, and they also worked with all the caregivers to learn how to assist the patient up and down stairs.




Part of my dad's frustration now is that they haven't told him what the criteria are when they can release him home. He wants to be 50 years old and 100% and he wants it to happen yesterday and he's decided that now is a good time to have the end-of-life conversation with my mom. I told them both to ask about the criteria for discharge, but my dad's still pretty doped up and depressed, and it's all my mom can do to just go to the nursing home and to work. I'm going to have to go out there and maybe I can get some information.

[Catrin]

Oy, now she has a fever, not going home today...

[Biciclista]

isn't this hospital stuff fun? I can hardly bear the ups and downs of Donald's stay. He is losing his spunk and that is killing me to watch.