Bless His Heart...

I just got a phone call from my sister, Holly.  She picked up Mom and they had gone to visit Dad.  They were suppose to call me so I could talk with Dad.  My sister warned me it had not been a good visit...

When they arrived, Mom was surrounded by the nurses and staff as she has not been to visit Dad in over a month.  Her fall last April has taken its toll on her back and consequently her legs.  While Mom was soaking in all the love, my sister went to the church services and found Dad sitting in his wheelchair with his eyes closed.

She wheeled him out to the patio and noticed immediately how horrible his eye is looking.  The entire lower lid is red, swollen and weeping.  Without a diagnosis, I am certain it is some type of cancer.  I am also sure the lesion on his temple is skin cancer as well.  His entire 90 years, living and loving the out of doors, much of it without sun screen until it was too late, has riddled him with skin cancer.  He had to have a large portion of his nose, by his nostrils removed several years before going into the nursing home...

My sister also noticed Dad was wearing  socks and sandals.  Apparently the staff had attempted to put on his usual foam booties (due to the basal cell carcinoma on his left pinkie toe) but to quote Dad, "he won the battle" and got shoes and socks.

My sister asked Dad to smile for Donna, so she could take a picture of his eye, and Dad's face brightened with a huge, happy smile."I feel kind of weak," Dad told her... then immediately threw up all of his breakfast.

Doctor-Doctor came running with towels and cleaned him up the best she could.  She told my sister Dad was fine when she gave him his shower this morning before his breakfast, but again, he had a big breakfast.  Holly followed Doctor-Doctor as she took Dad in the back way, so he would not be paraded through the community area in front of everyone.

Mom arrived to Dad's room shortly after he was cleaned up.  Dad had told everyone he was tired and wanted to sleep.  They removed his sandals and socks and elevated his feet with the his foam booties.  Dad did not resist the foam booties but complained he doesn't sleep well with his feet elevated...

My sister stood beside Dad and stroked his hair.  Dad saw Mom and smiled.  "I've been worried about you Lynnie.  How are you?"

Mom told him she was doing a lot better.  "I'm glad," he cooed as he closed his eyes, enjoying my sister's gentle touch.  Within minutes, he was snoring and sound asleep.

Mom is quite humped over and is walking very slowly.  She is very cautious of walking too far.  She told Holly she is not sore, so no doubt, she has compensated the pain she used to have and is now in the habit of walking this way. Her grand daughter graduated last night from LVN school and Mom did not attend, mainly because of all the walking.  Tonight my brother and his wife and having a big BBQ to celebrate her accomplishment.  Mom and my sister will go to it.

Unfortunately, we won't make it, so we sent her a card.  Her plan is to work as an LVN while she goes back to school to get her RN.  We are all very proud of her.

I called and spoke with the charge nurse.  She assured me Dad had only thrown up once.  I asked if he was getting enough water and she again, assured me he was.  She told me they had contacted the doctor and would keep me informed...  I know they will give in to Dad if occasionally he fights them with the foam booties.  We have all agreed it is not worth the fight, so to appease him, we let him think he is having his way.

Bless his heart, at his age, he is doing pretty darn well with all he has to deal with... We are so blessed to still have him.  We all are constantly amazed how he can still remember us with his dementia... but then, we have always been his top priority and focus...

May I just say, my prayers and thoughts go out to everyone up the coast with these hurricanes.  I have dear blogging friends in Georgia, New York, Virginia, Nova Scotia, Connecticut....all along there...so be safe dear friends, be safe.  God Bless you all.