Two weeks ago mom began a downward spiral. On Monday and Tuesday she picked at her food and she usually is a member of the clean plate club. Of course she could not say what was wrong. On Wednesday morning she did not eat anything and began to hold her head. The memory care facility called and said they were taking her by ambulance to the hospital, thankful they knew something was wrong...mom never had done this before. My sister jumped into action because I was on my way to my first appointment with the radiation oncologist. She was taken to the hospital and they discovered a brain bleed. She was admitted to ICU. My sister said the whole time she was with her she did not say anything that anyone could understand.....just jibberish. On Thursday, my sister and I visited her in the ICU and she was unresponsive. We talked to her loudly and gently shook her but she did not open her eyes. We talked to the nurse on duty and she said they had taken her for another CT scan that morning but ICU did not have the results yet. I asked the nurse if she was asleep or unconscious and she said asleep. She said she had been alert when they took her for a CT and then cleaned her up upon her return. We signed a DNR and talked with the doctor before we left. At that point my sister and I were thinking the end could be sooner rather than later. What a surprise when I called 4 hours later to check on the CT scan results and the nurse said that she has been discharged and is on her way back to the facility. I said 4 hours ago she was unresponsive and you discharged her....the nurse said she was alert. I was so upset but that is a long and ugly story in itself.
Jim and I rushed to the facility and found mom not alert, still just talking jibberish. The memory care unit had been led to believe she was alert and authorized her return to the facility. They were appalled and called 911 again. We asked them to take her to a different hospital. They admitted her and did see the brain bleed on their CT. Emory said that it seemed to be a bleed on top of a bleed. During the 4 days she was there she ate very little but was hooked up to an IV for fluids and potassium. We did get some ice chips and applesauce down. We discussed hospice care and where would she go after discharge. Could she go back to her current facility or a nursing home? The facility came to evaluate and said she could return and age in place. We are so thankful that she was able to go back to her 'comfort zone.' She returned to the facility and the next day they entire facility was put on quarantine for a bad stomach bug....no family visitors. We kept in touch with her caregivers and are thankful they took care of her and prevented the stomach bug from getting into the memory care unit. Tuesday, March 10th, the doctor visited and agreed that hospice was in order and he signed the papers to authorize hospice care. He did not think she could get back to her level of activity from just two weeks earlier. She has gone down so quickly. She is no longer mobile on her own. She no longer is able to stand or even sit up without assistance. She seems to have joint pain, her knees are swollen and if you move her she lets you know that it hurts. We can not believe such a difference in just two weeks.
Today we met with hospice and signed the papers. Valerie was certainly an angel in disguise and explained how hospice worked, what would happen, and who would do what with her in her unit. We are thankful she can remain at Northlake Gardens and continue to get the loving care and attention from those she is familiar with. Hospice is just another layer of love and care. It is still hard to believe that on my last visit at Northlake, that she was sitting up in the day room and doing well.
Today during our visit, mom was calling for her daddy. While in the hospital she would look to the ceiling and tell us to look....it is beautiful. We all know there is no cure for Alzheimer's and no chance of her condition improving....it is just a matter of time. We are on God's schedule....we don't know when but we know that when it is time, God will take her hand and lead her home. My devotion for today was so 'on time'....."Don't carry your burden any longer, but bring it 'boldly to the throne of grace' and leave it there." AMEN !
Please pray for our family....it is a tough time for all of us and we would appreciate your prayers.
Billy Smith, husband
Diane & Jim Chadwick, daughter
Nancy & Jim Love, daughter
Tim & Dana Smith, son
Susan, Scott, Nicki, Andy, Preston, Patrick, grandkids
Chris, Madison, Macy, Chesney, Parker, Caden, Hudson, Kensington, great grandkids
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