Bodacious Boomer

Mom in 1943

My mom had to be taken to the ER late Wed. night. She said that her abdomen was rigid and she just wasn’t well. I called her today. She said she was still feeling bad, but insisted that I not come over today. There was nothing yet to tell. They were just starting to run tests. I did have a long talk with her nurse, Carmen. She was extremely cool and able to tell me exactly what was going on, what tests were ordered. The thing that scared me most today was that they were running a full body scan to test for metastases. I haven’t heard when we’ll get the results. I have mixed feelings about how fast I want them. If it’s good news, bring it on. If not, it can wait.

Even if it’s good news, there will have to be some changes made. My brothers have had mom parked in that apartment for 6 months now. She DESPISES it. She has no friends there and she won’t cook for herself. She doesn’t leave her apartment except to get her mail. It’s almost like being in prison- but it’s safe and cheap. And my brother likes that. More money for him later you know. The bastard. I intend to speak to the social worker and the doctor tomorrow about having them insist that she move somewhere else. The place before the apartment was $5K a month. I knew she couldn’t stay there forever. There are other options though. She’s got to be someplace where she can interact with people again, be happy again. Mike will fight this with all he has. I know that as well as I know my own name.

If it’s bad news, then that will be that. Mom will be 86 in December. A few years ago, the last time she had a cancer scare, she was told that no doctor would treat it if it had recurred. There’s no way she could tolerate chemo again. And with her lungs, ravaged by 30 years of smoking and damage from cobalt treatments for breast cancer, anesthesia is always a dicey proposition. So I’m sure she’d probably go straight to hospice. My dad died suddenly at home one night 28 years ago. I had played cards with him that day and before I left their house gave him a big hug goodbye. That was the last time I saw him and how I remember him. I was never angry with him for leaving so abruptly. He was on to bigger and better things. The older I get, the more I realize just what a great way to die that that was.You’re here- then you’re not. I fear my mom will be not be so lucky, whether now or later. Only time will tell.

Blondie

Evelyn and I went to the gym today and then to her house to work on a project for her church. I received a call about 5pm from 24 hour Pet Watch. A neighbor down the street had one of our dogs. I freaked out and called Doug. He ran home and counted furry heads. Four dogs were still inside the house.  Blackie was in the front yard. Doug went and got our escapee Little Bit, filled the hole where they’d escaped and came to Evelyn’s to get me.

When we arrived home at 11pm, the pack was rowdy as usual except for Blondie, who was just laying on the floor. I approached her and noticed a three inch gash on her thigh. The wound wasn’t bleeding but it was gaping, open and deep. Doug somehow hadn’t noticed it when he did the head count earlier. I immediately called the emergency vet and described her injury. They assured me that by this time I could wait to take her to my regular vet in the morning. I carried her to my bed, covered the wound with a sterile pad and wrapped her leg with gauze. Luckily I had some Clavamox here, so I was able to give her a loading dose of antibiotics. We’re off to the vet early in the morning for stitches. I am so tired, but not sleepy- just too much on my mind I guess. I hope I can get some sleep tonight. However, I’m not very optimistic about that.

You know I can almost always find something funny in any situation. Right now I’m just not feeling it. No trivia right now- sorry.  If tomorrow doesn’t totally suck, perhaps I’ll post again and include some trivia.