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| This is the end of the sidewalk leading up the hill to the hospital. The road below leads into the main part of the downtown core. Today as I walked to town, there were several emergency vehicles just a few blocks from where this photo was taken. A young man had been run down as he was jay walking. I pray he is all right. |
I didn't think too much of this since I thought the nun could help mom while she was there. I protested that I had a cold coming on. If mom contracted a cold due to my presence she could possibly be in more danger from lung problems than from a nose bleed. The nun insisted I get there quickly. That got me moving as fast as I could.
By the time I arrived at the hospital mom's nose bleed had stopped but as it had been going on for 2 hours she looked like she had been in a terrible fight. Her clothing and her bedding were full of blood and no one had tried to wash the blood from her face. I set to work to start cleaning her at which point the male nurse said he could do it. I declined as I didn't want mom waiting any longer to be changed.
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| It is Fall now in Canada. These are the colours of most deciduous trees, although we also have some deeper red colours on maple trees. The most glorious Fall colours are found in eastern Canada. This view is from the top of the hill just before get to the original hospital entrance. |
After spending several hours at the hospital, I also got a chance to meet the attending doctor. He was only attending to mom today. Her family physician called him in especially to address the issue of the nose bleeds which have been happening daily for the past several days. I don't know how to spell the doctor's name but he was such a godsend and such a delightful man. So kind and gentle and very clear in his presentation of mom's condition. He readily informed me when I asked him for an update on several issues of concern. Then he turned around and proceeded to repeat everything to mom.
The doctors in Emergency were concerned that she might get a blood clot in the leg that is infected with cellulitis so they have been administering a blood thinner medication daily. It also seems that a possible blood clot in the lungs were found in the x-rays taken yesterday (Sunday). When I visited mom Sunday evening she did complain of sore back and asked me to rub it as she felt something there that was bothering her. Now I don't know in retrospect if my rubbing the back was a good thing but mom seems to think I saved her life by doing this.
Today she was spitting out a lot of blood clots during her nose bleed. From what she says about the ordeal, it is the worst nose bleed of her life even though she has had some doozies in her lifetime. The specialist ordered blood work which was done at noon and by 2 p.m. he prescribed another IV medication to neutralize the blood thinner. He says they will have to monitor her carefully and that hers was a complicated case since they do need to continue to give her blood thinners.
I left the hospital at 3 p.m. and apparently before the doctor left, he told mom he would not likely be back to see her but that the nursing staff would call him if need be. At 9 p.m., mom called very briefly to let me know the nose bleeding had started again and that the doctor, who was then in the Emergency Room was expected to pop around and see her again. I didn't get any call from the hospital so am trusting everything will be all right and will call the hospital first thing Tuesday. More things happened today that made it a very tough day but I thank God I survived the day relatively intact and feeling less tired and sore than yesterday.
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Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 |
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| When I left the hospital a shift change of nurses had just taken place. Here a nurse hurries home. |
13 comments:
It sounds as though you had another emotionally trying day yesterday. I do hope that your Mum will be okay - that nose bleed sounded pretty scary. Lovely that you met a good Dr who could explain all to you (it's a widely accepted fact in South Africa that most of the good medical staff - Dr's, nurses etc - have left for greener pastures as they just do not get treated/paid well in the majority of places in S/Africa). Hope that you have a friend or someone who can help YOU through all of this - you must also take care of yourself and rest as much as you can - although I know it's hard !
Hi Lynda, yes it was a trying day but I got through it :-) I do hope mom will be okay also but it is all in the Big Man's hands now. The main thing seems to be keeping the blood from clotting and preventing stroke as the infection appears to be under control for now. As for the cellulitis, I think that is going to be a long time before healing, especially as mom is largely immobile. They will be moving her to a new bed with a life so hopefully she can be moved in and out of bed and move around a bit.
Besides the good doctors from South Africa that I met this week, I had met a few others in emergency before whenever I've taken mom. I would say they are all excellent. I do have a few friends I am talking with who are helping me through, thank goodness. Though they are no here where I am it does help me for sure. I am resting as much as I can too.
Hi there..beautiful verse and image- so peaceful! I'm sorry to hear this but glad you could be there- as that can be so healing. It is pretty worrisome when it comes to the lungs- glad the infection cleared though and the attending Doctor was so helpful!
Hope you get some rest- My thoughts and prayers are with you-
Thank you Regina for your kind words. I did feel overall that the day was a good one despite the challenges.
Oh my, I am so sorry for all of this. It is tough to need the blood thinners, but then to be having these bleeding side effects from it. It is a blessing you have such a caring doctor with her. I'm amazed that even during this trying time, you manage to post lovely fall pictures, and pictures of interest. It takes a lot to get us bloggers down. Blessings.
Hi Ginny, thanks for stopping by. I posted the story update first and added photos later after I had a chance to download them. I'm glad you like them :-) Blessings.
Oh how sorry I am for your latest ordeal and of course your poor mom's. Bless you my friend and as Lynda says, take care of yourself when you can. Our local doctor back in South Africa spent many years in Canada, and yes, he is the best so I can imagine that the ones you've met from SA are tops as well. Thanks for visiting my blog this week, through all your trials. I have a link to a new blog on my post tomorrow if you care to visit me and check it out. I pray for you and your mom now. Bless you dear heart. (((Hugs))) Jo
Thank you Jo. I do appreciate your prayers so much at this time. I will check out your new blog later. Blessings.
Darling, I am weeping. How could they let your mother sit in her bloodied clothes and leave her a mess awaiting you. I am dismayed and appalled and a little angry. Your beautiful mom..I see so much of my own mom in her and I think of her in the nursing home. I pray that the caregivers give excellent care and we hope and believe for the best. I pray for your strength as well.
My word ID is "rings". Life is a circle...
Dear Katy, this particular hospital is terrible. I've never heard of or seen one like it. My mom isn't the only one who suffers such indignities but it is the only hospital here. Thank goodness there are those nurses and doctors who truly are angels that it doesn't make up for things but makes it somehow more bearable. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I hope your mom is doing well. xx
Darling, I am weeping. How could they let your mother sit in her bloodied clothes and leave her a mess awaiting you. I am dismayed and appalled and a little angry. Your beautiful mom..I see so much of my own mom in her and I think of her in the nursing home. I pray that the caregivers give excellent care and we hope and believe for the best. I pray for your strength as well.
My word ID is "rings". Life is a circle...
Oh how sorry I am for your latest ordeal and of course your poor mom's. Bless you my friend and as Lynda says, take care of yourself when you can. Our local doctor back in South Africa spent many years in Canada, and yes, he is the best so I can imagine that the ones you've met from SA are tops as well. Thanks for visiting my blog this week, through all your trials. I have a link to a new blog on my post tomorrow if you care to visit me and check it out. I pray for you and your mom now. Bless you dear heart. (((Hugs))) Jo
Hi Lynda, yes it was a trying day but I got through it :-) I do hope mom will be okay also but it is all in the Big Man's hands now. The main thing seems to be keeping the blood from clotting and preventing stroke as the infection appears to be under control for now. As for the cellulitis, I think that is going to be a long time before healing, especially as mom is largely immobile. They will be moving her to a new bed with a life so hopefully she can be moved in and out of bed and move around a bit.
Besides the good doctors from South Africa that I met this week, I had met a few others in emergency before whenever I've taken mom. I would say they are all excellent. I do have a few friends I am talking with who are helping me through, thank goodness. Though they are no here where I am it does help me for sure. I am resting as much as I can too.
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