OT: waiting on a call... hoping for the best...

Paul, I'm so happy that the surgery went well. Her confusion is not unusual. She is fortunate that you will be going to look after her. My husband's mom lives a little over 300 miles away and we have to make the 6 hour drive just to take her to her doctor's appointments, and I worry a lot about her. So I understand your difficult position. While you are staying with her, you might want to take some of Muse's advice and get a few lights in. And she may want one of the tub benches if she doesn't have an easy say of bathing or showering.

Keep us updated on her progress!

Jane

Oh yes, Paul, you might want to think about getting the raised toilet seat with handles, the tub chair that part of it sits outside the bathtub on the floor so she can sit on it and then swing herself around and lift her legs in, that is the one we got for Mike when he had his hip replacement and it worked way better for him than just the one that sits in the tub! Also, handle grips for the shower walls and one to sit on the tub itself, I am soooo glad to hear that things are going so well for MOM!
One other thing is, I would think about getting her a cordless set of landline phones with 3 or 4 extra handsets, one for each room, even the bathroom, all you do is plug it in to an electrical outlet, well just a few thoughs added your way!
Goodluck, you are a very good son, i'm sure Mom is very proud of you,
Cheers,
ShirL

Wonderful news Paul, and I'm glad you got to talk to her. That was obviously a huge relief.

If she's as feisty as she sounds, she'll not let the therapy beat her either!

Glad to hear all is going well. Confusion is normal after surgery, the anesthesia will do that to a person. Good to hear they just needed to put a pin in, it should make her recovery a bit easier. She will have to be non-weight bearing for a while and then they will probably start doing rehab. Sending you both positive thoughts for a speedy recovery.

My parents got one of those walk in bathtubs a few years ago and they love it. They are expensive however so she/you may not be able to afford it. Another thing is a temperature control on the shower/faucet so they cannot scald themselves.

There are an amazing number of gadgets out on the market these days that make life easier for people who are more physically challenged.

I am glad she is doing better. When my mother fell last year it was due to a stroke and the outcome was not as good.

Paul, I'm so glad the surgery's over, that your mom's doing well and that you were able to talk with her on the phone. My thoughts are with you both and for an uneventful recovery.

Thanks for all the kind words of support everyone.

I tried calling again tonight but there was no answer. The receptionist asked if I wanted the nurse... but I declined figuring they are busy enough without fielding phone calls all the time. I called her good friend and gave her the update with my earlier afternoon call today. She called her after my call and was able to get through by asking for the nurse... who then gave the phone to my mom.

Mom is doing fine and says she will sleep well tonight. Still no word on when she is returning to her hometown hospital. I think they want to keep her a couple of days to ensure the healing is going well and to perhaps get her moving around a little more. We are just anxious to have her back in her hometown again... even if it is at the hospital there.

I called one of her other friends today to let them know the news... and that she would not be at their club meeting this week. It seems the news about this has spread like wildfire around town because everyone seems to know already.

I am anxious for the recovery to move along but I realize I need to tone that down... from everything I have read it seems recovery from this is generally slow no matter what age the person is at.

For when she is finally able to return home I am seriously considering going back up there to stay with her. My job is done about 90% through network access and over the Internet with a small portion that I need to be physically in this town. As necessary I could arrange to come back here every couple of weeks to attend to things in person as need arises. My employer is like a 2nd family to me so I'm pretty sure they would be cool with the idea. I would just need an Internet connection up there and I'm good to go. I will give the logistics of it all a little more thought this week. Unfortunately, this week I have the unpleasant task of participating in the termination of employment of a couple of staff members who have in a word been idiots... much longer story there. I don't expect mom will be coming home this week anyway.

I need to slow myself down and take this one day at a time for now. I am just so happy surgery went well and now wish I could simply snap my fingers and recovery would be over in an instant with mom being able to compete in marathons... haha.

Hi Paul,
I'm sure you feel helpless so far away. You were not responsible at all for her fall. She knows you call often and your relationship with her will help bring her some peace while they look into things. I'll keep you both in prayer. Keep us posted.
Rosemary

Continuing to keep you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers as well. About moving back to be with her, follow your heart. It is so good that you have a job that will allow you to work from there!! Hugs to you and your sweet mom!! Cindy

I called the bone & surgery center this morning expecting to speak with mom... but they told me she is in transport back to her hometown hospital. I guess they felt everything was good to go for that move back.

That is very good news... as now her friends can come visit and I imagine the physical therapy will be slowly getting started either later today or perhaps tomorrow. I know she will not enjoy the bumpy ride back but hopefully the pain will be less with the bone now immobilized by the hardware.

Mom asked the nurse yesterday about going home and apparently the nurse said it would be a few more days so I had no expectations of this news about a transport this morning. I guess they felt the healing process was starting already.

I know she will heal because she has already had a couple of minor surgeries on her left arm for a fistula in preparation for eventual dialysis. She has had diabetes for years so well over a year ago the doc thought it would be a good idea to get prepared. On her last checkup they told her the kidney function had stabilized... likely due to diet and medication. Her arm healed up very nicely then.

So far so good, but I think as some of you have said... getting mobile again may be a longer process. They may get her up moving but will most likely want to keep very little if any weight on the affected leg. One day at a time.

An apron, with big pockets, in which she can put one of the cordless phones, and anything else she would like to have about her - glasses if she doesn't have them on her nose the whole time, etc.

Since her bending may be limited in the beginning, she might probably need a slew of long armed mechanical "helpers" to help her: one that catches things that slipped to the floor, one that helps her put on socks or stockings, and a looooooog shoe horn -- if she uses shoe horns.

I assume there's some difference between the healing and limitations post hip replacement, and post fracture - but getting rid of slippery rugs/carpets as you were planning to is definitely valid for both.

O.

Bending...might see if you can find some non-slip shoes that close with Velcro, they won't slip off or slid compromising balance-stability and she should be able to figure out a system (long-grabbers) that will help her close the straps. I have several pairs of hiking sandals that close with Velcro... on day's I'm stiff, I open the straps, toss 'em on the floor, slid my feet in, and use a long-grabber gadget to push the strap in place. She can grab the Velcro and pull the strap up to remove the shoe.

On the other hand, the hospital might have some suggestions for footwear. When I was hosptialized, they made me wear footies with those non-slip patches on the bottoms...worked well, kept my foot warm (esp at night), and I had secure footing while walking. Of course I had someone to slid them off and put a fresh pair on every morning.

Aw man... talk about a miscommunication with the hospital earlier.

She is still at the bone & surgery centre... nothing wrong they just have not transported her yet. It will be a couple of more days.

The receptionist thought I was referring to another person there with the same last name that has been transported this morning.

It isn't helping that I need to drag out my very rusty French for this either.

I managed to get through and speak with mom a few minutes ago...

Transport back to her hometown hospital will happen tomorrow although she is not sure exactly when tomorrow. For the circumstances she sounds good and says she is getting very good care.

They had her out of bed, standing up moving around today and they have been doing some movements with her leg while laying down. The nurses are telling her that she is doing well and will be fine.

On another front... I was given her good friend instructions over the phone on how to clean out a kitty litter box. She is fine doing this but didn't have a clue. I could not believe I was explaining all this over the phone.

Some of you may be wondering why she was transported to another hospital in the region for the procedure. They have a cooperative arrangement with the hospitals in the region where each of them have their specialties rather than duplicating services at 3 different hospitals that are only about an hour from each other.

The hospital in my mom's town has the dialysis center for the region... which in mom's case we though was great since if or when she went on dialysis at least travel would not happen. Still a bummer to be attached to that machine for 3 - 4 hours, but at least she would get to go straight home afterwards rather than travel.

Her friend, who has a lot of experience with this stuff, tells me mom may be back in her own home in a couple of weeks. So... I am planning on being there to help for that... and stay for a while.

Sounds like your mom is in good spirits which is really great! Good to hear that they have her moving around which is so important for all aspects of her healing process. I guess we all should be moving around a lot more than being on the computer

Ontario and Alberta have adopted the same model within regions and municipalities. It makes good sense, but it is tough go if you are an hour away from home and family. Glad to hear that you have a great employer that is willing to be flexible - great stuff Paul!