Thursday, April 23, 2015

Tough Day

It was a tough day yesterday. We got a text from Toby's sisters at 5:30 AM saying that their mom had fallen and had been taken to the emergency room. She had a broken nose and said her neck hurt. The next text came a few hours later saying that her neck was broken in two places. With her age and osteoporosis, chances were that it would not heal on its own. The doctor decided to do surgery on her and fuse (screw together) vertebrae ASAP. We scurried over to WF arriving about 12:30. We were able to go into the pre-op area and visit with her.  She looked pretty bad with a neck brace on, her face was swollen - black and blue. Both eyes were blackened. Her nose was off to one side, and she had a couple of cuts on her forehead with a huge knot and bruising. She was in a lot of pain, but she was able to smile and talk to us and answer the ten jillion questions that each nurse asked her. At 3:00 she was taken into surgery. It was close to 7:00 when they came to say she was in recovery. The doc said she had done well. That it was a very tricky operation with the nerves and artery that go through those vertebrae and trying to put screws into her osteoporosis bones. He had managed, and she had done well. We had to wait another hour or so for her to come out of recovery and be moved to ICU. About 8 PM we were able to see her again. She looked much better. The neck brace was off  (for now). Her nose seemed better. We teased her that she looked very punk-ish with her purple eyes and orange (iodine) hair.  She laughed and chatted with us.  What a trooper!

We left the hospital around 9 PM and headed home. I don't know what the next days will hold for her. I don't know how the neck fusion will be on her mobility. Today I may head back to WF to do hospital duty and sit with her.  Hopefully we will find out what comes next.

In the middle of all the worry about Toby's mom, my mom called me. Although I told her about my MIL's fall, Mom does not have the mental ability to think rationally. In the ten minutes we were on the phone, she forgot about the fall and surgery and instead got angry with me over some crazy issue. It was so not-my-mom. And the worry over her and my MIL made it especially difficult. Maybe I can deal with her today. Maybe not.

9 comments:

Etienne said...

I worry about myself now. I've been falling down and injuring myself, but so far haven't broken anything except skin.

It's a funny feeling when you're falling, but I don't react fast enough, and so I just brace for impact. One lady at the store looked at me cross, and said it was too early to be drinking. I was shocked at her comment, but then all I could do was laugh, and she left me on the floor, going away with a disgusted look.

I've told my doctor I'd rather have the arthritis, as the drugs are going to kill me.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope there are no complications. Hospitals scare me.

CenTexTim said...

Been through (and still going through) caring for elderly parents. My Dad has frequent falls, and my Mom died from Alzheimer's. It's tough... God Bless you, and best wishes to the patient for a quick and complete recovery.

bag blog said...

CenTexTim, thanks for the understanding and well wishes. It means a lot.

bag blog said...
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Jo Castillo said...

Ah, Lou. So sorry for you two. We are past caring for parents and are now the parents for our kids to take care of. So far so good.

Gene says to tell Toby's mom to go easy on the sauce! Really we feel so bad for her and hope the recovery goes well. Wow! We are thinking of you. Hugs from down south.

Jo Castillo said...

When I hear of anyone falling a lot I think of Gene's Parkinson's. That was what really came to the forefront when we didn't know why he was falling. Scary!!

Bag Blog said...

Toby's mom is already doing so much better. It's amazing. I like Gene's teasing.

John said...

Been in SA on business this week so just got around to checking your blog. You and Toby cherish your times with your Moms Lou. When I see what happened with Susie (losing both her folks in less than 3 months), it makes you really, really think. My Mom drives me crazy and Dad can't remember much but I try and take each moment in. Sometimes its hard when Mom jumps on my back for nothing, but Susie is pretty good about calming me down. Our thought are with both of you guys. Tell Toby I hope his Mom is doing better each and every day. Take care of yourself Lou!

Bag Blog said...

Thanks John. Sometimes acts of love are not easy.