Since I'm thinking Noor B's problems have caused us to not have the usual WYFP published last night, I decided to take a shot at my first diary, albeit without the access to the group. Please bear with me as I unburden myself tonight, and maybe one of the other WYFP'ers can help me republish to the group.
Tonight, I am sitting at home alone, except for the presence of Moishe, our little black tomcat. Calamity Jean is spending the night at hospital with her mother and father. The plan today had been for us (me, Calamity Jean, her parents, and all her local sibs and sibs-in-law) to meet for Mother's Day at Algauers. Nature cruelly cancelled that plan.
My mother-in-law is in the early stages of dementia, and usually has bad episodes in the morning, but yesterday she woke up cheerful and cogent. She had received a call from Calamity Jean's youngest sister earlier in the day, was doing laundry, and about 4 PM. my father-in-law took a shower. At 4:30 PM he was finished, dried off, and dressed, when he came upon my mother-in-law in the kitchen, flat on her back and unconcious. The paramedics arrived quickly, and took her to the hospital. The ER neurologist said she had suffered a serious stroke, so serious that it could not be treated. My father-in-law eventually got hold of us just as Calamity Jean was about to start cooking dinner, and we headed out to the hospital, stopping on the way for a quick bite.
As the night progressed, my mother-in-law was moved from the ER to a room in the ICU, and while apparently unresponsive initially, began to show some reactions. Calamity Jean had me head for home about 3 AM. this morning, knowing at least that physically her mother was in good shape, and they were doing something for her, keeping her sedated and on a ventilator. I picked up my wife late this morning, and after she had lunch, she took a nap, intending to go back to the hospital this evening after we had dinner. As we had driven home she related that her mother was now awake, off the ventilator, responsive and talking. When she got back to hospital this evening, I checked in with her, and she related that her mother was more active, albeit being just a trifle stubborn and uncooperative (like wanting to get out of bed, and pull out her IV's). Unfortunately, she was also showing some signs of her dementia, but whether that was due to the stroke, or not being on her normal medications, I don't know. Time will tell how well this turns out, but I'm cautiously optimistic.
My father-in-law has to be taking all this pretty hard. He was the youngest of 11 children in a dirt-poor midwestern town, that he managed to get out of by joining the Navy. He applied to and was accepted at the US Naval Academy, and managed to survive World War 2, the Korean War, and raising 4 rambunctious (but he will tell you wonderful, and he's right!) children. He's had to bear the brunt of this and has shown a heckuva lot of resilience for a man in his mid-90's. I fear for him, and for my mother-in-law, and I'd wish what has transpired this weekend on very few people.
I hope your weekend has been better, but if it hasn't, well, that's what we're here for. That's my FP. What's your's?Updated by JeffW at Mon May 09, 2011 at 11:08 AM CDT
Well, its Monday morning, and I just talked to Calamity Jean. Her mother will be moved today to a regular room as one becomes available. And tonight I'll be on station with my wife, as my mother-in-law is being obstreperous and it take two people to deal with her. Wish us luck!
Updated by JeffW at Tue May 10, 2011 at 01:33 AM CDT
And now it is Monday night, into Tuesday morning. Calamity Jean and I are keeping an eye on her mother in her hospital room, keeping her in bed. Beats having her tied down, I guess.
Updated by JeffW at Tue May 10, 2011 at 09:11 PM CDT
Its now Tuesday, and my mother-in-law is doing much better. Apparently what she did not have was a stroke, but some extreme manifestation of her dementia. The doctors are trying to get her out of the hospital and home tomorrow.