VIRTUAL ABBOTTS

Friday, February 13, 2009

Third day of good progress, then disaster

So here's Mom's schedule for today: occupational therapy at 8:45. Physical therapy at 11 and again at 3:15. So far so good.

I arrived to take this photo just before occupational therapy.

Then I followed the therapist and Mom down to the therapy room. First thing on the docket: bowflex! If I were smarter, I'd rotate the film, but I'm not.

Mom was happy and working hard. The therapist talked with me about Mom's bathroom at home and showed me various kinds of support bars. We'll have to think more about that later.

I went to teach a class. When I came back at 3, there was trouble. Mom had suddenly had intense pain in her broken leg when a nurse was helping her get off her bed. She said she screamed and screamed. The woman in the next bed, Marsha, there with a stroke, held her hand while she screamed. The nurse finally, while I was there, and while Carol called (sorry to put you off, Carol, hope you called back) gave Mom a strong pain killer of the . . . CONTIN family. We read together, worked on a crossword puzzle, Mom dozed.

Then three friends from her neighborhood came and I went home for the evening. I called at about 8 and Mom's friend Joan was there. Mom had lunch and dinner in bed -- a big setback.

And then I remembered (see the sign at the top): Friday the 13th!