Correction: Kacie, not Casey.
A nod to Brian Lamb interviewing Andrew Ferguson, author of “Crazy U.”
Have you ever sat and watched house power meter gears turn?
A best college visit wish to Maggie and her mother, Maggie.
A friend, Floyd, living with his mother as a part-time assistant, not cost-free handyman, because his mother’s mobility is much decreased in the second half of her life, said, in relation to dating women, “Mom, I’m going out tonight and will be late. If I’m lucky, I’ll be home really late.”
We adult men parental caretakers are still men, after all.
My mother in-law hit rock-bottom this afternoon while I sat at my parents’ house.
She couldn’t bend over to pick an item up off the floor and had the worried thought that maybe she was permanently weakened, panicked we had put her in a nursing home without letting her know, because she had heard us say she was only there for physical therapy but no therapist had shown up yet.
Minutes later, Justin the therapist arrived, sent by God in answer to prayers/thoughts, my mother in-law surmises.
Her spirits are lifted.
So are mine.
The role of patient, loving mother/father is not one this hermit cherishes.
“You mean I really am only here for physical therapy?”
Yes, I reply for the decadozenth time as gently and kindly as if for the very first time.
“I won’t have to pay $42,000 a month for nursing home care?”
No, I reply once again, explaining in as simple a detail as I can without shouting too loud to her deaf ears that she keeps substituting 42,000 for either 2,400 or 4,200 we mentioned a long time ago after we checked prices when she asked us if we’d be okay IF SHE chose to enter a nursing home and that her finances are fine no matter what because of her Social Security benefits and Medicare insurance with supplemental coverage.
As the therapist told her, she’s being too hard on herself -she’s a great lady with a beautiful smile, sweet disposition and inner desire to heal.
Meanwhile, she troubles herself about her post-therapy future.
I’ve asked her to focus on improving her strength so she will have the ability to make the choice she wants as opposed to what any of us will have to choose for her if she remains weak.
As always, I am humbled by daily experience.
Healthcare workers – floor nurses, home health workers, etc. – you have my biggest respect.
We may write history books about business, military and government leaders but the people in the fiel such as nurses, LPNs, CNAs, nurse practitioners and physician assistants deserve the greatest kudos for keeping us well and helping heal the sick.
treetrunkdings 