Mutable -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, February 12, 2009

MUTABLE

DEFINITION: (adjective) likely to change.

Saddening news from Pepper today. Mom fell on Saturday evening and broke her hip. She tripped across a bed lever from her new roommate's bed as she was walking to the restroom. Her surgery on Sunday morning went without a glitch. She came through just fine. She has not come out of the sedative stage. It is believed she had a stroke sometime Sunday evening or aspirated on vomit. I did not stay with her on Saturday evening as they promised to have someone watch for her. I also did not stay on Sunday night because she would be out then. I have been beating myself up.

Tuesday morning the doctors told us at 8:30 we had an hour before she would be gone. Then in the evening they told us she would not make it through the night. Hospice was called in. Well, she again, same as in October, has surprised us with her will to fight.

Her vital signs are tremendously well. Her urine output has increased. Her breathing has stablized, but she is still unconscious. She can understand what we are saying. She had her eyes opened all day yesterday and they were clear. Unlike Monday and Tuesday when they were clouded, gazed and unresponsive.

I really had my hopes up yesterday when her breathing wasn't so labored. Her hip is healing well, but her complete right side is limp and she has a twitch in the right side of her face.

I had hoped she would pull out of it like before. We were having such a great time with our relationship. We were communicating better and she didn't seem as agitated. She was excited about her birthday party that was to be last Sunday. I was experiencing a part of my mother that I had never before. We were hugging, touching, laughing and just having a good time. She called me 'momma'.

On Tuesday also, my sister-in-law took a turn for the worse. She was rushed by ambulance to UAMS and her kidneys are failing. She was severly dehydrated. They are pumping her full of fluids to reverse the cycle. My brother is in complete denial of her illness and mom's. Remember, he is a wheel chair victim.

I won't linger any longer. I just wanted to keep you updated. I really don't believe mom will make it through the weekend.

Please pray for my family and me. Especially my little brother, Mike.

Good afternoon and love -- Pepper (I am so sad)