Lost Day

Well, today sucked.

Diane and I got a call early this morning that my mother (who turns 90 in a few weeks) was in a lot of pain and had been awake with it since 2:30 last night. The description sounded like the pain my father had from a clot the day before he died. Mom, I'm sure, was quite aware of that fact.

Mom fears medical issues, and tries desperately to avoid doctors or hospitals. Diane and I have little patience for that sort of thing, though. So we got ourselves ready and drove the 30 minutes out to my brother's house to get her to the hospital. We took separate cars, since I work on Saturdays and was hoping to still be able to get to the showroom on time. That didn't happen.

When we got to my brother's house, it was apparent that Mom was in more pain than I had ever seen her experience in the 45 years I've known her. We managed to get her into Diane's car and headed off to the hospital.

We spent about ten hours in the hospital's emergency center with Mom. After several hours, she was experiencing quite a bit of back pain from being in the bed and not able to move too much.

Fortunately, the tests did not show any blood clot or fracture in the area. The doctor is hoping that maybe she just strained a muscle in her groin. The bad news was that her blood tests showed some kidney issues. She has had some issues with her kidney function, which is why her doctor sends her for blood tests on a fairly regular basis. Apparently, he told her to get some tests done last December -- yes, about five months ago -- but it didn't happen. Since I am both her legal healthcare proxy and executor, it is in my best interests to keep her as healthy as possible, so I guess I'll have to make it my responsibility to get her to all of her medical appointments.

So I got home around 8:30 tonight, and still had to make supper for my sister Judy, and give our beagle Shiloh her epilepsy medication. Diane stayed out with Mom, and will probably do so until my brother and sister-in-law get home tonight. Diane is great about taking care of family, and that's probably one of the reasons I surprised myself back in 2004 by suggesting that we get married. Poor Diane is going to be pooped by the time she gets home.

I dreaded telling Judy about Mom going to the hospital, but she has as much of a right as any of my siblings to know about her mother's health (SEE NOTE 1). Judy never gets upset about illness (I don't believe she has ever cried when someone close died, not even our father), but she does like to ask endless questions. And she insists on having prayers said for sick people at church. I know she lacks the mental ability to understand what a total waste of time and thought that is (You mean NO ONE prays for amputees?), but it still bugs me (SEE NOTE 2).

So now I have to make up a full day of work (or lose the pay, but that's not happening), and I missed Joe's installation as the new commander of his American Legion post tonight. Although I disagree with the Legion's divided loyalties (<50% Americanism), Joe is a valued friend and a distinguished military veteran and I wanted to be there for him. I know he understands, but it still sucks.

So I guess this counts as a "venting" blog. ;-)

Hopefully, we'll have decent enough weather tomorrow that I can get some work done in the garden. Mom should have people around all day tomorrow but, if it is nice out, maybe I'll take the Ducati for a ride out to see her at some point.

XXX

NOTE 1: People with developmental abilities deserve the same dignity and respect as the rest of us. I know there are people in the world -- lots of them -- who think that "retards" don't deserve the same rights as "normal" people, but I have only a two word response for that (and it is not "Happy Birthday").

NOTE 2: Personal peeve here: Don't ever pray for me if I am sick or injured. I can't stand the thought of people wasting time and energy like that in my name -- talk about a bad investment (Ponzi scheme?). Feel free to volunteer or donate to a charity for me, or go visit a sick or elderly person for me, or adopt a pet or child for me, or do any of the many things that could be done to actually make a difference in the world. Life is too short -- don't use me as an excuse to waste any of it.