It's Good to Have a Purpose in Life...

I called the nursing home yesterday about a message I had received from them.  The message said Dad's doctor had ordered a culture on Dad's pinkie toe because it is not healing...  I called to remind them a biopsy had already been done and it was confirmed it was a basal cell carcinoma.  When I spoke with the charge nurse, she told me two hours after giving the nursing home the orders, the doctor called to cancel it. He probably read his office records and realized it had already been done.

I told the charge nurse Dad should have a culture on his right eye as my Mom, sister and brother had all reported how bad Dad's eye looks.  Our family has taken the position, unless Dad is in pain, we won't put him through the trauma of surgery.

I asked the charge nurse if I could speak with Dad and she put Dad right on the phone.  He recognized my voice and told me how happy he was.

"I feel so good and am so happy today!"

"I'm glad to hear that Dad!"

"I have been exercising....I love how these lovely people make it possible for me to keep in shape..."

"Yes, it is so important...I remember how much you love to exercise and took walks twice a day..."

"Oh yeah, I love exercising...it makes me feel so  good! And it very important to have a purpose in life..."

"I agree Dad.  Your purpose is to be happy and to keep exercising so you can feel good..."

"AAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

"NO! STOP THAT!!! AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH"

"I'M GOING TO BITE YOU!"

"AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGHHH!!!"

"Dad!  Dad, what is wrong?

"She is touching my eye -----AAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH NO! NOOOOOOOO!"

"Dad, does your eye hurt when she touches it?"

"Yes,  I don't like it when they touch it... I tried to bite her."

"Dad, NO BITING!  She is just trying to help you by wiping the goop out of your eye."

"STAY AWAY!  YOU'RE FIRED! GET AWAY!"

"Dad?  She is trying to help you...."

"Dad? Dad?  Would you like me to do some research and find a good doctor to look at your eye so we can make it better?"

"Yes, I think that is a good idea."

"OK Dad, I will find a good doctor....we'll get Doctor-Doctor or I______ to go on the transport with you and we'll have Mom or one of us meet you there to be with you.  How does that sound?"

"It sounds good.  I want to take care of myself."

(Here's hoping Dad keeps this frame of mind and does not give the doctor a rough time when his appointment rolls around....)

Dad told me the lunch trays were coming so he had to go eat with his friends....

Love you Dad....