Brokeback Ma...
My mother fell backward in her new garage the other day, creating a compression fracture in her lumbar spine. It was horribly traumatic to watch my mother falling against her car, down onto concrete while I was helpless to reach for her.
There is small stoop in the garage and my sister and I hired a friend to install a safety rail. But she stepped onto the stoop 90 degress to the rail and so grabbed air as she fell. Bad as it was, thank God the car was there and its door was shut. She bounced against the springy-ness of the metal door rather than clonking her head onto the concrete.
But the small of her back folded and then went down. I had to struggle to get around my father on his walker to get to her. I remember him saying, "We need help; we need help." And me saying, "Who is there to help?" just before I got to her and tried to keep her on the ground. For, like an injured wild animal, her instinct was to rise up and get away. I went to her and held her in place and told her to wait a bit before rising so we could take an inventory on her injuries and determine whether she should rise. I could only hold her back a little while. When she could not rise up directly, she crawled to the safety rail and pulled herself up. I asked her to wait there until we reassessed her in that position. At that point, a neighbor came running into the garage. Dad had called him.
Ever since that day, Mom's whole life has changed. Because they are new to town, we are still figuring out doctors. This is a whole long story I don't want to dwell on here. But, suffice to say, that we finally got her to first a walk-in clinic for xrays and then to an orthopedist.
She's now in a back brace whenever she's out of bed. It was nightmarish to leave her x 3 days to help in my sister's move up here. Family members worked shifts to make sure my parents had help, but it's infinitely better now that my sis and her husband are living in the house.
When Labor Day finally passes, I will be able to call the ortho again and request a home evaluation from a physical therapist. My sister is bolder about getting Mom up from bed to walk a bit. And, after being really "on" for six weeks, I am able to step back a bit and let my sister lead in many things.
This is not to say I'm abandoning anyone. I still plan to do many important things. But, perhaps racing back and forth across town continuously is coming to an end. They'll be cooking food there at last and the many small ministrations will come naturally from those in the home. Soon, my sister and I will discuss how to split some of the responsibility. I have some ideas, but will be happy to hear hers, too.
Meanwhile, my own life and business have been languishing a bit. I need to return to them. I'm extraordinarily tired. My sister has a month "off," to get established here and get many things done. But it's shake-and-bake time for me. The gallery opens this Friday. There's a bank account to open, lots of pricing to be done. It's a bit surreal. Staying human in the midst of all of this has meant just finding a way to flow.
My own art is on the back burner for now. I'm an elder caregiver and gallery owner. Art from my hands will return later. When I do get the chance to make jewelry, it goes well. So I'm reassured that I'm not forgetting how to do things.
Progress is occurring on all fronts, and I'm grateful.
....................................................................................................@
My mother fell backward in her new garage the other day, creating a compression fracture in her lumbar spine. It was horribly traumatic to watch my mother falling against her car, down onto concrete while I was helpless to reach for her.
There is small stoop in the garage and my sister and I hired a friend to install a safety rail. But she stepped onto the stoop 90 degress to the rail and so grabbed air as she fell. Bad as it was, thank God the car was there and its door was shut. She bounced against the springy-ness of the metal door rather than clonking her head onto the concrete.
But the small of her back folded and then went down. I had to struggle to get around my father on his walker to get to her. I remember him saying, "We need help; we need help." And me saying, "Who is there to help?" just before I got to her and tried to keep her on the ground. For, like an injured wild animal, her instinct was to rise up and get away. I went to her and held her in place and told her to wait a bit before rising so we could take an inventory on her injuries and determine whether she should rise. I could only hold her back a little while. When she could not rise up directly, she crawled to the safety rail and pulled herself up. I asked her to wait there until we reassessed her in that position. At that point, a neighbor came running into the garage. Dad had called him.
Ever since that day, Mom's whole life has changed. Because they are new to town, we are still figuring out doctors. This is a whole long story I don't want to dwell on here. But, suffice to say, that we finally got her to first a walk-in clinic for xrays and then to an orthopedist.
She's now in a back brace whenever she's out of bed. It was nightmarish to leave her x 3 days to help in my sister's move up here. Family members worked shifts to make sure my parents had help, but it's infinitely better now that my sis and her husband are living in the house.
When Labor Day finally passes, I will be able to call the ortho again and request a home evaluation from a physical therapist. My sister is bolder about getting Mom up from bed to walk a bit. And, after being really "on" for six weeks, I am able to step back a bit and let my sister lead in many things.
This is not to say I'm abandoning anyone. I still plan to do many important things. But, perhaps racing back and forth across town continuously is coming to an end. They'll be cooking food there at last and the many small ministrations will come naturally from those in the home. Soon, my sister and I will discuss how to split some of the responsibility. I have some ideas, but will be happy to hear hers, too.
Meanwhile, my own life and business have been languishing a bit. I need to return to them. I'm extraordinarily tired. My sister has a month "off," to get established here and get many things done. But it's shake-and-bake time for me. The gallery opens this Friday. There's a bank account to open, lots of pricing to be done. It's a bit surreal. Staying human in the midst of all of this has meant just finding a way to flow.
My own art is on the back burner for now. I'm an elder caregiver and gallery owner. Art from my hands will return later. When I do get the chance to make jewelry, it goes well. So I'm reassured that I'm not forgetting how to do things.
Progress is occurring on all fronts, and I'm grateful.
....................................................................................................@
posted by Luna @ 10:24 PM
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