Topic: Please keep mom in your prayers, her journey is coming to an end

I came up last week to visit w/ mom and her sister had flown in from texas.  When i first got here, she was able to walk on her own w/ some help w/ the cane.  Then a few days later cane and a helper, and then the walker. 

Then finally she couldn't walk any more.  We would help her into the wheel chair, and transfer her to the bed or chair in the living room.  Then on thursday night it was just to much.  So, friday we were able to get her checked into the hospice of NW ohio.  Its a 24 hour hospice care center w/ like 30 rooms. 

The first night was really rough.  For whatever reason, the nurses/aids on staff were giving us a rough time.  She had one drug that was prescribed (neurontin) which had given her some side effects that weren't good.  So we repeatadly told them to hold and not give the meds.

I left to get some food and clothes to spend the night.  Well, the nurse gave her the med, which makes her vision go yucky, and confuses her.  Dad didn't pay attenton to all the meds, she rattled them off real too quickly, I think he assumed they weren't going to give the one drug since we told them no several times.   I was ready to  yank her back home the next morning.  I was getting nasty snide comments the first day, like, we have them on a schedule so pills don't get skippd, and we have doc orders so we give all the pills, and just other really rude things.  Like since they new mom a whole couple hours they new what was best. 

I didn't make it the whole night, all the comings and going so my brother came in early.  Went back got a few hours of sleep. Talked to my dad about yanking her back home and getting private nurses.  Well, dad really wanted to keep her there, however he said I'm goin to talk to the head nurse.  She had a completely different view of care, than these horrible nurses the night before, and those nurses were removed from mom's care, and some super wonderful nurses took their places.  I only see them on occasion and they keep their mouths closed.  The head nurse was like we don't have a problem holding things, and working with what you want given. 

So if your in a similiar situation, ask to speak to the head nurse.  Things changed, and things got a lot better.  The most annoying thing was we told the nurses 3-4 times, we didn't want the one med given, and at no time did she say, when it was pill time that dad could refuse it, she gave me the line, well its in the docs orders so I'm going to give it crap!    Not until I confronted her in the hallway, and said, what exactly do I have a to do to prevent mom from getting that dose of med in the morning.  Then she is like well, you could have refused it when i was giving the pills?  Like what the hell did she think we were telling her over and over.  Plus, she was shoving several pills in her mouth at the same time.  She didn't even take multiples together when she was doing better at home.

Off that horrible nurse,  we have had lots of family come into the hospice center.  Its a wonderful place, all the rooms have a view of a small pond.  Its next to a park/presserve.  They have tons of bird feeders, and squirrel feeders out everywhere.  We brought some sun flower seeds and the squirrels and chipmunks were loading up today.  They have a hospitality room, lots of little sitting nooks outside if you need a break, a small kitchen to reheat in the micro , coffee, tea.  They have a bunch of books, dvd cd's of music movies.  Wonderful walking paths outside.  They even have a resident dog named tanner.  He is a jumbo sized golden retreaver who loves to eat.  If you bring in your dinner, and are having a snack, he stops by.  There are signs up not to feed him, as he has a slight weight problem, he waddles sme.

Mom isn't able to really chew anything now, she is just taking some really yummy strawberry shake, a little apple juice or sauce and water.   She was taking liquid motrin to help w/ pain besides the liquid oxyfast.  But w/ the liquid motribeing thick she is starting to choke on it.  So they are planning on putting a sub que (sp?) just under the skin to administer the pain meds.  They just aren't sure if she is swallowing, and at night, since its hard to swallow, they have to wake her up, so this will make it easier, so were hoping the doc ok's it tonight.  It scary to think that she isn't getting her pain med.   

She isn't able to communicate to much.  Sometimes she is able to say a few words.  She is most responsive when we are up close, and it we gently rub her head or cheek

So please keep mom and the family in your prayers, her journey will most likely only last a few more days.   

Connie