On My Couch

It's Friday night and I'm in my happy place...On the couch in my pj's with Balto and my blanket.  I turned on Netflix and picked a documentary called "Born in Syria".  It is an award winning foreign film (yes, subtitles) from the perspective of Syrian refugee children.  The movie reminded me of how blessed we are in America and to be more compassionate of everyone.  

This has been quite a week.  Last night, I walked over to visit Mom and Dad.  Dad was making supper (Vienna sausages and biscuits w/ a baked potato - seriously) and Mom was setting the table.  She asked me if there was something slippery on the floor.  I couldn't find anything.  Curious, I asked her why she thought there was something slippery on the floor and she mentioned that she fell earlier.  She seemed perfectly normal and said she was fine.  After she ate, I asked her if anything hurt.  She told me that she hit her head and there was a big knot on the back of it.  I put my hand on the back of her head and felt a very large bump.  Long story short, I made her go to the ER.  Mom is on blood thinners for A-fib so there really wasn't any choice.  Thankfully, her CT scan was clear and the doctor said there was "no brain bleed".  We got home around 10:30 p.m. 

When I walked in the door, I saw one work boot in the hall.  That is the work of Balto.  He likes to carry shoes around and leave them in random places.

I soon found the other boot.

Today we went to Ortho Carolina for another appointment regarding mom's broken arm.  The doctor decided to order another x-ray since she heard that mom had fallen.  She then told us that Mom is a candidate for surgery because she has 2 clean breaks on 2 different bones; we were shocked.  She said that her bone will not heal correctly and it will give her limited mobility and most likely, pain.  Her suggestion was to consider her level of pain now and her activity level.  With Mom's age (82), heart condition (a-fib), low activity level, and the fact that this is not her dominant hand, Mom decided not to have the surgery.  The doctor said that she is going to X-ray the arm for the next 3 weeks and if it gets worse, she will need surgery.  We are hoping she won't need it.  

She went from a bulky splint...

To a more manageable cast...

The next question is why did she fall.  The ER doctor thinks that the cumbersome splint/sling caused her to balance to be "off".  It didn't allow her to stop herself either.  She instructed Mom to use a cane to balance.  I'm not 100% convinced this is why she fell as the very night before, she thought her blood pressure might be high and "thought she might fall".  We took her blood pressure and it was normal.  She has an appointment with the cardiologist next week and I will ask him what the next step should be.  

Earlier in the week, I found this post on Instagram by Shelley Giglio, it really spoke to me:  

As I walked from my parents' house to get my car so that I could take Mom to the ER yet again, I reminded myself of her post.  I told myself, "You are ok.  God will give you everything you need to handle this at the exact time you need it".  He always does.  

When we got home Dad told me that he had called his friend Neil who is 89.  Neil told him that his knees keep "going out" and he just falls down.  I told Mom and Dad that they need to get together with Neil and start a club for people who fall down a lot.  

Tomorrow morning I will take Mom to get her hair "done" and do her laundry.  I told her I am going to start charging by the hour.  (wink, wink).  Seriously, it is a gift to take care of the people that took care of me for so long.  I broke two arms as a 5 year old so, this is a little bit of payback!