Sad Times and a Depressing Visit...

Mom had a depressing visit with Dad yesterday.  His last blood test indicates a rise in his red blood cells and the doctor expects it is Dad's foot.  Prior to Dad going into the nursing home four years ago next month, he had a small blister on his left pinkie toe from wearing shoes which were too big for him.  He insisted he wore a size 10 and he wore a size 9.  He would wear extra socks to absorb the extra room in the shoe...

Dad also has poor leg circulation.  Every time we attempted to have him treated, Dad would freak out, so we all decided unless he was in any pain or there was a medical emergency, we would leave it alone.  The blister turned to a skin cancer and then became a growth.  Now the growth is almost as large as his foot.

His doctor faithfully does Cryotherapy on his foot to keep the growth from getting bigger and staying away any infection.  We all know if it does become seriously infected, he not only would remove his foot, but probably further up above his knee would have to be amputated.  We all doubt Dad would survive surgery, and if he did, he would so upset at losing a leg...

Let it be a lesson to all those out there who procrastinate on medical issues.  It is far easier and better to address an issue when it is small than to wait and stall only to deal with a far worse scenario.  Dad was a habitual procrastinator prior to his disease, but after onset of the disease he also became so suspicious and paranoid, especially with doctors.

Mom found Dad asleep in his wheel chair in the dining room.  When she greeted Dad, he asked, "How did you get here?" Then promptly shut his eyes and drift off back to sleep...

Doctor-Doctor brought Mom a chair.  They both engaged Dad to get him awake.  Dad was obsessed with the hair on his upper lip and kept running his tongue over it...  Mom brought it to Doctor-Doctor's attention and she promised to personally shave him closer after the visit as she was not Dad's care taker for the day and did not shave him.  Doctor-Doctor always does such an excellent job.

When Doctor-Doctor left, Dad returned to sleeping...slouched so low in his wheel chair Mom was nervous he would slip out of it...

Mom showed Dad the birth announcement of my youngest grand son, Baby G who is a little over one month old.  Dad opened one eye, looked at it and smiled and went back to sleep.  Mom took the announcement to Dad's room and hung it on his "wall of love" and returned.  Dad was still asleep.

Dad's lunch was served: Chicken, rice & carrot soup in a wonderfully fragrant broth,  chopped egg salad sandwich with pickles and olives, milk, mixed green salad, strawberry ice cream, strawberry Ensure, a banana, milk and coffee.  Dad's sandwich was cut in half and Mom cut it again into fourths making it easier for Dad to handle.

Dad has a habit of gulping all of his coffee at once...no matter how hot...and when he does, he coughs and chokes.  He got upset with Mom for making him pause in between gulps. While Dad was coughing, he sneezed twice and sprayed Mom and all the food on the table.  Poor Mom...

Doctor-Doctor brought Dad his usual fruit plate, but Dad told her he did not want it...

Dad did not touch his salad, a little of his soup, but drank his coffee, milk, Ensure, ice cream and his banana.  One of his favorite male care takers was helping serve at another table and greeted Dad in saying, "Hello Handsome".... Dad replied, "Inside or outside, I don't care."  Not sure if Dad heard what he said or what....

Dad continued to dose in his seat.  Another nurse stopped to chat with Mom.  She had been on vacation for three weeks and told Mom she noticed since she returned, Dad seemed a lot more quiet and less interested.  She told Mom Dad is always happy to listen and chair dance to music, but lately, he does not seem to care or notice.

The male care giver returned to ask if Dad wanted to go out on the patio...but Dad continued to sleep.  Mom suggested Dad was tried and would prefer a nap.  When Dad did not respond, the care giver wheeled Dad to his room.  Mom kissed Dad's forehead but Dad apparently was too tired to respond.

Mom was pretty down after her visit...but we know this is part of the disease...we are thankful for the good visits and know every once in awhile we must endure the bad ones...

I am not being stingy with photos of my newest grandson... I am not posting any because my oldest daughter is very protective of her children and prefers I not post them.

We had some very sad news this morning.  A dear family friend passed away early this morning after a two month hospital stay following surgery for esophageal and stomach cancer.  We had visited him and his wife this past September in Missouri.  We are so thankful for our wonderful memories and will miss him very much.

He was a life warrior, enthusiastic about life and made sure he made the most of each and every day.  He was a talented carpenter making furniture and fixing things, an avid Gardner and tiller of the soil, a gourmet cook, a doting grand father and proud Father of two beautiful, talented and intelligent women and a wonderful, involved, loving husband. His career of choice was spent as a Chemist.  His scientific mind sparked his curiosity about everything. He self published a mystery novel which I featured in my blog, and was in the process of writing another. He was a diligent Stewart of the earth and his fellow man. He had a terrific sense of humor, was very involved with his community and his political beliefs. Rest in peace dear friend.