Mom on Memorial Day

On her kitchen table lies a signup sheet from the ward. Three slots a day for people who will take her for a walk, one a day for dinner.

Next to it is her dictionary and the day's crossword puzzle from the DesNews. She's got it completely filled in except for a long word with almost all the letters already there: "bodi_ _ rippe_" The clue says something about romance novels. Bodiceripper, I say. Never heard of that, says the world's most prolific reader.

What would you like me to write about you in the blog? I ask.

Write that I'm getting stronger and feeling good, she answers. And that I like getting phone calls and visits.

Mom's first night alone

Carol left this morning after breakfast and a walk. I stir-fried chicken and vegetables for Mom's lunch (she showed me the proper way to do it, Carol). We did a brisk walk and Mom is moving more securely and feels good being in tennis shoes instead of slippers.

She'll eat Lyn's quiche leftovers tonight and sleep alone for the first time since the operation. She insists that although Jill helped her several times over several nights, Carol and I just slept through the night and she doesn't need anyone, thank you very much.

Neighbors keep looking in, and although I'll be nervous, I think she'll do okay.

Tuesday at Mom's

Pictures of Carol's handiwork; and a picture with Lyn, who baked the quiche for dinner.

Isn't Mom looking good?

Carol to the rescue

Mom and I set out on an evening walk just as Carol arrived, stiff from the long drive after closing her classroom for the summer. She'll be with Mom till Wednesday, following Jill's stay. And, at the rate Mom is progressing, she's likely to need less and less care. She can do most things for herself, taking care not to bend, lift, or twist. And she's looking more alert and happy day by day.

Friday afternoon

Friday afternoon, just back from a walk around the entire block with Mom. First time she’s walked even half this far. We stopped to talk with any number of neighbors, all of whom were solicitous. When we got home, Mom changed into a t-shirt and went straight to bed.

 

That was our second walk of the day, and we’ll walk again before supper. It seems to me like Mom is getting stronger and more secure with what she’s able to do. She reads a lot, has a lot of visitors, does the crossword puzzle.

Mom's looking good

May 15, about 8 p.m.

After a good long week, Jill went home this morning. When I talked with her last night I asked her how the day went.

Crappy, she said.

Ask her for details.

When I got here this afternoon, Mom was up and talking with her neighbor who spent the day with her. She looked much more alert and happy than when I last saw her. She walked three times today outside, the last time with the physical therapist who came about 5 p.m. After dinner, she talked with Christy and Carol on the phone and is now reading in her room.

Seems like a good end to a good day after a much more difficult one. Thank you Jill!

Mom on the day after Mother's Day

Jill, who is staying with Mom, reports this morning that after a rough day yesterday -- discomfort and pain and discouragement -- Mom is feeling some better today. It may have something to do with the fine soup Jill cooked from scratch, or the fine Mother's Day meal Jill cooked, or simply the fact that Jill is there to answer the bell Mom rings from her bed and to get her up and about, doing the activities that will help her heal.

Home from surgery

Mom is recovering well and she gained some fan fair at the hospital. Comment from the nurses was that she was a great patient. She is learning how to do the log roll into bed so she doesn't twist and how to sit on chairs and slide into her car. The doctor said she can be quite active and not to baby herself too much. She can walk as much as possible and can shower but not bathe. She is learning how to manuvere without bending, twisting, and lifting untill she gets a little stonger. It should't take too long and she can walk as much as she feels like doing. She can go up and down stairs. Scott installed a removeable shower head in her bath and a sitting stool bench which was suggested by the ocupational therapist and also added heith to her throne by putting a nice tall seat on top of her old one. He also got her a reading lamp to put over her bed. She is set to go and I will be with her until Thursday and Carol will come after that. She will be up and going before we know it! Jill

Mom has smoked her last cigarette

At least part of the problem with Mom's back was spinal stenosis (a narrowing). Here's a link to a site that describes the problem and has illustrations: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.burtonreport.com/images/Spinal%2520Canal01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.burtonreport.com/InfSpine/AnatLatSpinalSten.htm&h=271&w=456&sz=50&hl=en&start=57&um=1&tbnid=mipXUDkDX-KqmM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dposterior%2Blateral%2Bspine%2Bfusion%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Both of these show normal spines, with open spaces for the nerves. The x-ray the surgeon showed me had the whole thing squished together, putting pressure on the nerves, which caused the pain.




Jill is with Mom today in the hospital, after a whole day and long night there with her. She reports that Mom is feeling good and has walked up and down the hall and up stairs and had breakfast and is basically feeling much better than yesterday after the fresh surgery (done between 7:30 and 9 a.m.) and after effects of the anesthesia made her very uncomfortable.

If you want to look up the surgery, it's called "posterior lateral fusion of lumbar 4-5." The surgeon also fused two higher vertebrae that were on their way to ruin. Here's a link to the general surgery (which includes a note about how fusing in more than one place can be troublesome -- hope the surgeon knew what he was doing):

http://www.spine-health.com/Treatment/Back-Surgery/Surgery-Overview/Lumbar-Surgery/Lumbar-Spinal-Fusion-Surgery.html

And here's the smoking reference:

• Smoking cessation. It is generally advisable to quit smoking prior to a spinal fusion surgery, as nicotine is a direct toxin to bone graft and will prevent the bone from forming.

• Limited motion. Bone forms better if motion is limited, so patients are advised to avoid bending, lifting, and twisting for three months after spinal fusion surgery.

The occupational therapist, Florentina, was investigating Mom's possibilities and capabilities and the motions she routinely performs. She asked how, when Mom stood in front of her stove, to heat water for tea, for instance, how she had to turn.

I don't drink tea, Mom answered.

Browsing across the front yard this morning

Finally!!

Wow, this was really difficult to find out how to blog in Hong Kong. The site kept coming up in Chinese since everyone who lives in Hong Kong must speak and read Chinese!! I'm still trying to figure out (with translators - Jenni, Lizzi, Ben, and Tony) how to put a picture on the blog. After I get it all figured out, I will be a better contributor!

Love you all,

Christy