Friday the 13th. My wife's mother, turned 92 last January, has fallen several times in past months; she livesalone (with her cat). Still drives about in town herself. Wife's kid sister, Betsy, who is an elderly care provider, has been looking after their mom's welfare. They live 1/2 mile apart, in Indiana. My wife has booked a flight there on July 29. This morning, Betsy, using wisdom she has gained caring for the elderly, took their mother, who had been acting abnormally, in to the hospital. Tests revealed blood in the brain. Possibly from a fall, or stroke of some kind. They may try to drain the blood tomorrow. An interesting clue to trouble being present was noted when their mom was trying to call a lady friend, pushing the number buttons on her T-V remote........ The big dilemma now for my wife is, should she wait, and go on the 29th., or go sooner, perhaps much sooner? In any event, I will have to stay behind, as any time away for much more than a few days would spell curtains for our plantings, so carefully cared for. Frank
I agree with Holly. One never knows how these kinds of things will turn out, and your wife will forever be broken-hearted if she doesn’t go right away and her mother dies or goes into a coma before she has a chance to see her and at least say goodbye to her. Any kind of an operation will not be good at her age, and especially one that is a brain operation.
@Nancy Hart My wife is in nearly constant contact with her sister via FB; every step of the way, my wife was kept aware, surely a point in favor of the internet. This morning the surgeons drilled a hole and inserted a drain in her skull, a procedure which makes me cringe thinking of it, but evidently second-nature nowadays in medicine. Only half-awake, a nurse came in to ask questions pertinent to the brain's abilities. She asked my MIL "Do youm know where you are at"? We could have predicted her answer: "Right before the at". A standard Hoosier comeback to thaty question. She is evidently doing well. Frank
@Frank Sanoica ...glad she is better...I also would go now if at all possible. I do hope that drs leave her alone and do not subject her to surgery and more meds.
Update: My wife has decided to wait until the 29th., after talking to her mother this morning. The specialists conclude that she can leave ICU now, then to rehab then home. My wife and her sister think the docs are missing a lot in being so optimistic. Their mother is not cognizant of many things she normally would have been. Example, she tried using "the phone" but was holding the T-V remote and depressing the number buttons. My wife is understandably very upset; I sense it, but she is very good at keeping feelings tucked away inside. The decision to not go there now was hers alone. Frank
Thank you for the update Frank. Give your MIL some time to recover. Maybe after some time, she would finally recognize some things like she used to.