It has been a summer to remember; a summer that has challenged my physical and emotional stamina. School is beginning again and things have almost setted down – almost.
On June 9, my precious grandmother fell. Up until that day she lived at home and did fairly well for someone who is 98 years old. That day, however, was a ‘game changer’. The circumstances of the fall made evident the fact tmhat she could no longer live at home. She fell during the middle of the night and lay in the floor for several hours. Oh, yes. She had a ‘lifeline’ bracelet on her wrist. She decided not to call them because she knew the paramedics would take her to the hospital. Sigh. Well, her main injury was broken ribs. She spent a week in the hospital.
When I received the call that she had fallen, I was teaching music in Vacation Bible School at my church. I immediately left, packed my suitcase and drove to her home, which is two hours from my house.
Mom, at the age of 98, has outlived most of her family. She has buried two sons, a husband, and all of her brothers and sisters. I am the oldest grandchild, and the one who has received the mantle of caring for her. Though this is no small task, I count it to be a privilege and blessing. I don’t know if I can put into words what she means to me and how much I love her.
I will be sharing in the next few posts what I have learned from her this summer.
I recently spent the night with my grandmother, Mom. She is now 97, still living at home, and still as spunky as ever. I took her to the doctor for a checkup where he pronounced her to be doing very well. She continues to gain weight, strength, and alertness. She is truly amazing.
After her doctor’s appointment we went out for lunch. That’s our tradition, you see. It has been challenging at times to handle the logistics of getting her into and out of a restaurant with her walker, and then finding table and chairs that are at the right height. Her back is literally shaped like a crooked question mark and she is now very little and very stooped. There have been times where her food has been too high for her to see, but she has not complained. She just enjoys her meal.
On this occasion, everything worked out just fine. We were able to park close to the door of the restaurant and she had no trouble getting in. The table and chairs were exactly the right height and we put a pillow behind her back to cushion her spine from the rungs in the back of the chair. We shared a chicken strip plate and she ate well.
It doesn’t matter where we are, at the doctor’s office, hospital, or restaurant, the same thing happens. You can count on it. Though it is no longer surprising, it is still amazing to watch. People are drawn to my grandmother. Everyone who passes her smiles. Many go out of their way to talk to her. I believe it is her goodness, her love, her joy, that makes her a people magnet. They sense all this and more in her, and they desire to know her even if it is just for a moment.
As her granddaughter, I can’t tell you how it thrills my heart to watch this take place time after time. I have always known these things about Mom, but seeing it confirmed in the smiles of other people is an unmeasurable treasure.
I believe that if her body holds up, she has the zest for life to reach and go beyond the century mark.
I talked to Wayne’s sister last night at church, and Wayne is having a very good week. He is having less pain this week and his radiation and chemo are progressing well. He and Glynn should be able to come home this weekend, and we are all looking forward to that. It will be so good to see him again. He has 3 more weeks of chemo and radiation and then he will have 2 or 3 weeks off before he begins another round. Wayne’s walk with God has developed and matured in ways that those of us who have not traveled down the path of life threatening illness, can not understand. I will share more of my thoughts about this in another post. Thank you for your prayers for Wayne, Glynn, and their children.
Mom, my grandmother, is continuing to do well. She is gradually getting stronger, is eating everything ‘that doesn’t eat her first’, and is staying very alert mentally. I am so impressed with the strength of her will, and with her desire to live her life on her own terms. She is now staying by herself at night and managing quite well for a 96 year old. She has a caretaker in the mornings who comes and cooks, cleans, and does laundry. This same lady now comes back in the evenings and gets her ready for bed.
Yes, eventually Mom will have to leave her home. I know that. Yes, she is a fall risk. Yes, she is somewhat forgetful. I know that also. But I believe that she will live longer if we can keep her right where she is. In her own bed. Her own lift chair. Her own home.
She is still an inspiration and blessing to all of us. She is the light and joy of our lives.
I am sitting here with my grandmother. She has been away from home 4 weeks today; 2 weeks in the hospital, then 2 weeks in a skilled nursing facility. She has been to death’s door, looked it in the face, and returned to us stronger than ever. We get to keep her for a while longer. She has “shocked” (his word) her doctor, and amazed her family. She has given us inspiration and joy.
Barring unforseen problems, she will be able to go home on Wednesday! Her home. To live alone once again. Just as she has done. It has been her dream to be able to live at home until the “upper taker” (her word) comes to get her.
The doctor tells me that the obstruction in her small intestine will most likely happen again, and if/when it does, she might not survive. We are not going to let that dampen our thankfulness or curb our joy for Mom’s recovery.
I have heard doctors talk about something called the “step down” process. When a person reaches a certain stage in life, and certain health challenges arrive, then that person may not be able to recover to their ‘pre-crisis’ level of health. Hence, a ’step down’. A friend of mine asked me about how my 96 year old grandmother was doing. He said to me, “Now you realize, she is not going to get much better.” Weeeellllll, she has not only recovered to her ‘pre-illnes’ level, she truthfully appears to be stronger!
I told Mom, that I was writing this blog about her and asked her if there was anything she had to say to any of you who might be facing serious illness. She immediately replied, “Thank God and count blessings and not pain.” Yep. That’s Mom.
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