My mother has always been independent and very capable of managing home, work, religious activities... Everything that life brought to her door! My dad died at a very young age of a massive heart attack and mom became dad, mom, and the only income maker in the family. She accomplished many things and was awarded and recognized in her field of work. Go mom!!! I have always heard that getting older is not for the weak at heart and have seen this up close and personal with several loved ones that were just as independent and capable as my mom. Mom has not been an exception to this. She is supposed to be on oxygen 24/7 needs a walker and hates having to be dependent on any of it!. (I was raised by my mother so you can imagine I have some of the same qualities, independent and in charge!!! Lol)
Mom has tried to keep her independence by taking her oxygen off for just a minute or so... (And the ladies that we have devotionals with every Monday know this has become a battle between us!) When I see mom without her oxygen I will mention to her she needs to put it back on.... Actually I give her about 3 seconds to comply and then I demand that she put it on!!! (NO NOT ME!?!?!?) I bet you can imagine how my mother reacts to that.... To keep her from digging in her heals in even more I have taken a softer and more gentler approach in my words and tone... with a look that could kill!!! (I know this for a fact as I caught my reflection in the window one time!!!! I have always been told that I do not have a poker face!! Sigh... ) As you can imagine there have been some scary times when needed medical care is refused!!!! Last night, I wasn't with mom when she decided she didn't need it for just a minute, so the wearing of the oxygen did not become a war. Mom took her oxygen off for just a minute like she convinces herself that she can. She then forgot she wasn't wearing it and fell asleep like she easily does now. Thank goodness Danielle was bringing up dinner and called mom to see what she wanted. She roused mom just enough!!! Mom knew she was in trouble and also knew she could't get to her oxygen a foot and a half away!!! I heard a movement upstairs and thought something was wrong and had started to go check on her. Mom knew she was fading fast and had Siri call me! I was already on my way up!!! I had the oxygen turned up and back in her nose. Even with turning up the oxygen to get a jump start it took 40 minutes before her oxygen was back up to the right level!!! As I was making sure her oxygen was back up I took a deadpan serious tone with mom and told her she scared me to death and what if Danielle hadn't called and I hadn't already been on my way up!!! She would have been dead within moments!!! She agreed with me. I do not believe that it was the placating that sometimes we all do when she affirmed that she was in trouble! I told her she can not take off the oxygen period, because she always thinks it is just for a moment and then it isn't and then she is gone!!!! I believe she is finally scared into complying!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
I am Ally. I am the center of my universe and I can determine whether to be a victim, survivor or thriver. At one time or another I have been all of the above... I am choosing to thrive!
Categories |