Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Day 4
- The surgery was early on Wednesday morning. My mom was removed from her room around 6 AM and did not return until about 5 PM. My Aunt Sylvia, my mom's sister, drove down from Hampton on Tuesday night and spent the night with her. She hung out in the waiting room until the surgery was complete and until she could see my mom afterward.
My 4-year-old son fell in love with her. He's been talking to me about her every day since. He's supposed to finish a coloring page and mail it to her. This morning I heard him fussing at my 1 1/2-year-old daughter. I don't know what she did, but he was telling her that he had to finish his picture for his Aunt Sylvia. He added, "She's my aunt!"
Anyway, my mom had not really had a chance to get any rest since she checked in on Tuesday. She said last night was the first night she didn't have someone coming in to her room every 30 minutes. She looks like herself today. She's more alert and carrying on a conversation--that is, until she gets in a nap. The doctor wants her to get up and walk around today.
I have been trying to get her to eat. So far, she ate some jello. I am thanking God for the progress and am praying for a speedy recovery.
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I really did not want to go to the Internet and say anything negative, but nobody reads my blog so here I go. A doctor wearing a brown party dress, brown fishnet stockings, and brown knee boots came in and spoke to my mom this morning. At the time, my mom had eaten nothing but a little jello that I pushed her to eat. My mom complained of being nauseated and she talked about how weak she was feeling.
The doctor mentioned that all of the numbers looked good enough for my mom to be discharged. However, she never said for sure that she would be going home. She told my mom to walk and eat to help her feel energized.
Imagine my surprise (and the nurse's too) when the nurse announced that my mom had been discharged. My mom is better, yes. Better than yesterday that is. All she could do yesterday is sleep. I'm not sure what she had eaten since the surgery. Today she is awake a little longer and holding short conversations, but she is still lying around and sleeping. She has no appetite. I made her eat some jello and she ate a little bit of a salad. She said if she had known she would feel like this she would have never agreed to have the surgery.
That brings me to my next point. My mother did not want to have this surgery in the first place. DUKE has been pushing her to have surgery for more than a year. She finally agrees and then they try to push her out of the hospital before she is ready. She can barely sit up. Is she really supposed to jump in the car and ride for almost 2 hours?
Not long after we learned my mom has been discharged did I hear the nurses saying that a patient had fallen out by the elevators. REALLY!
So, another doctor stops by. We explain the situation to her. She says, "I see she's eaten all of her food." Okay, you're standing in the doorway. My mom didn't eat any of the beef stew and rice, she only ate a little salad, and she said the pudding was nasty. But, she ate all of her food. And, you have on glasses.
With all of the TV shows about medicine and hospitals, too many people think they can be doctors. My mom may be just a patient to you. For you, she's one of many. But, your one of many patient, is my one and only mama. She will get the care she deserves.
I think I'm done for now. I'll let you know how it goes.
My 4-year-old son fell in love with her. He's been talking to me about her every day since. He's supposed to finish a coloring page and mail it to her. This morning I heard him fussing at my 1 1/2-year-old daughter. I don't know what she did, but he was telling her that he had to finish his picture for his Aunt Sylvia. He added, "She's my aunt!"
Anyway, my mom had not really had a chance to get any rest since she checked in on Tuesday. She said last night was the first night she didn't have someone coming in to her room every 30 minutes. She looks like herself today. She's more alert and carrying on a conversation--that is, until she gets in a nap. The doctor wants her to get up and walk around today.
I have been trying to get her to eat. So far, she ate some jello. I am thanking God for the progress and am praying for a speedy recovery.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really did not want to go to the Internet and say anything negative, but nobody reads my blog so here I go. A doctor wearing a brown party dress, brown fishnet stockings, and brown knee boots came in and spoke to my mom this morning. At the time, my mom had eaten nothing but a little jello that I pushed her to eat. My mom complained of being nauseated and she talked about how weak she was feeling.
The doctor mentioned that all of the numbers looked good enough for my mom to be discharged. However, she never said for sure that she would be going home. She told my mom to walk and eat to help her feel energized.
Imagine my surprise (and the nurse's too) when the nurse announced that my mom had been discharged. My mom is better, yes. Better than yesterday that is. All she could do yesterday is sleep. I'm not sure what she had eaten since the surgery. Today she is awake a little longer and holding short conversations, but she is still lying around and sleeping. She has no appetite. I made her eat some jello and she ate a little bit of a salad. She said if she had known she would feel like this she would have never agreed to have the surgery.
That brings me to my next point. My mother did not want to have this surgery in the first place. DUKE has been pushing her to have surgery for more than a year. She finally agrees and then they try to push her out of the hospital before she is ready. She can barely sit up. Is she really supposed to jump in the car and ride for almost 2 hours?
Not long after we learned my mom has been discharged did I hear the nurses saying that a patient had fallen out by the elevators. REALLY!
So, another doctor stops by. We explain the situation to her. She says, "I see she's eaten all of her food." Okay, you're standing in the doorway. My mom didn't eat any of the beef stew and rice, she only ate a little salad, and she said the pudding was nasty. But, she ate all of her food. And, you have on glasses.
With all of the TV shows about medicine and hospitals, too many people think they can be doctors. My mom may be just a patient to you. For you, she's one of many. But, your one of many patient, is my one and only mama. She will get the care she deserves.
I think I'm done for now. I'll let you know how it goes.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Day 1
Well, I am here with my mom at Duke University Hospital. I don't really have much to do, but I do have my laptop and things on my mind. So, why not blog?
I took this week off from work to be with my mom during this very critical time. As my pastor preached on Sunday, this is a time of change for her--change for the better. Her body needs a change and we are here to see it happen.
On yesterday (Valentine's Day), I packed up my kids and myself for the week and chauffered my mom to my sister's house. My baby sister is at the house with my babies and the rest of my siblings are at work. So, it's just me and my mom, nurse Lisa ♥, and my laptop. The nurse is super sweet. I prayed that my mom would have the best nurses, doctors, etc. I can already see part of my prayer is answered.
Today is pretty much just waiting around. The surgery is going to be sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure if it is in the morning or the afternoon. My mom prefers it to be in the morning. I guess that's what I prefer it to be as well. The sooner it is done, the sooner recuperation can begin.
I wonder how my kids are doing. This is really not the place for two cute, but very excited kids. I probably won't bring them here. I'll try to Skype them.
I took this week off from work to be with my mom during this very critical time. As my pastor preached on Sunday, this is a time of change for her--change for the better. Her body needs a change and we are here to see it happen.
On yesterday (Valentine's Day), I packed up my kids and myself for the week and chauffered my mom to my sister's house. My baby sister is at the house with my babies and the rest of my siblings are at work. So, it's just me and my mom, nurse Lisa ♥, and my laptop. The nurse is super sweet. I prayed that my mom would have the best nurses, doctors, etc. I can already see part of my prayer is answered.
Today is pretty much just waiting around. The surgery is going to be sometime tomorrow. I'm not sure if it is in the morning or the afternoon. My mom prefers it to be in the morning. I guess that's what I prefer it to be as well. The sooner it is done, the sooner recuperation can begin.
I wonder how my kids are doing. This is really not the place for two cute, but very excited kids. I probably won't bring them here. I'll try to Skype them.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Hmmm...
Six years ago, I was awakened by my sister Kay or maybe startled out of my bed would be more appropriate. I remember her saying that my mother couldn't get my father to wake up. The rest is history.
I jumped out of my bed to go and see what was going on. There was a bunch of snow outside on the ground. We were released from school early the day before.
When I got home from work on that Wednesday, my daddy was sitting in the basement. I was so glad to see him back home from the hospital following a surgical procedure. I believed that because he was home everything was going to be okay. We talked about the people on tv who were having accidents and getting stuck in the snow. He told us about his stay in the hospital. His nurse's name was Sonya.
I was supposed to go and visit him in the hospital the night before. But, I just knew that he was okay and because he was scheduled to come home the next day I decided not to take the 35 - 40 minute drive to the hospital. This is a decision that I regret. I stupidly thought that I would be tired for work the next day, so I didn't go to the hospital. I should have went anyway and called in to work if I was tired. Ever since, I felt that I put my job before my family and I NEVER want to do that again. I can replace a job, a job can replace me, but I cannot replace a loved one.
To make a long story short, I never talked to my father again after that Wednesday. Well, I have, but he couldn't hear me. I'm not sure if I've ever forgiven myself for not going to the hospital. I'm sure he wouldn't have held that against me.
What am I trying to say? I loved my daddy and still do very much. I think of him often. I used to get sad when I thought of him, but I don't think that's the proper way to honor him. He was full of joy--always laughing and smiling and singing. I hope that if he were here he would be proud of me--the person I am and the choices I've made.
He taught me a lot of things. He was present for me and my family. He worked HARD to take care of us. He raised us as children should be raised. He didn't let us do what we wanted to do and he didn't let us disrespect him or our mother. He set a standard for us and we are who we are because of him.
I did not intend for this blog to go in this direction. I feel like I'm rambling. How do you deal with the loss of a loved one?...You live and you keep living and you love and you don't change who you are. You might make a few mistakes, but maintain your integrity. No matter what, I'm still Rufus Parker's child. There's a level of expectation that comes with being his child and by meeting and exceeding those expectations, I keep his memory alive.
I jumped out of my bed to go and see what was going on. There was a bunch of snow outside on the ground. We were released from school early the day before.
When I got home from work on that Wednesday, my daddy was sitting in the basement. I was so glad to see him back home from the hospital following a surgical procedure. I believed that because he was home everything was going to be okay. We talked about the people on tv who were having accidents and getting stuck in the snow. He told us about his stay in the hospital. His nurse's name was Sonya.
I was supposed to go and visit him in the hospital the night before. But, I just knew that he was okay and because he was scheduled to come home the next day I decided not to take the 35 - 40 minute drive to the hospital. This is a decision that I regret. I stupidly thought that I would be tired for work the next day, so I didn't go to the hospital. I should have went anyway and called in to work if I was tired. Ever since, I felt that I put my job before my family and I NEVER want to do that again. I can replace a job, a job can replace me, but I cannot replace a loved one.
To make a long story short, I never talked to my father again after that Wednesday. Well, I have, but he couldn't hear me. I'm not sure if I've ever forgiven myself for not going to the hospital. I'm sure he wouldn't have held that against me.
What am I trying to say? I loved my daddy and still do very much. I think of him often. I used to get sad when I thought of him, but I don't think that's the proper way to honor him. He was full of joy--always laughing and smiling and singing. I hope that if he were here he would be proud of me--the person I am and the choices I've made.
He taught me a lot of things. He was present for me and my family. He worked HARD to take care of us. He raised us as children should be raised. He didn't let us do what we wanted to do and he didn't let us disrespect him or our mother. He set a standard for us and we are who we are because of him.
I did not intend for this blog to go in this direction. I feel like I'm rambling. How do you deal with the loss of a loved one?...You live and you keep living and you love and you don't change who you are. You might make a few mistakes, but maintain your integrity. No matter what, I'm still Rufus Parker's child. There's a level of expectation that comes with being his child and by meeting and exceeding those expectations, I keep his memory alive.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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