I'm writing today to update you all on what's been happening with us.
Thank you for all the notes of concern and prayers for my mom. She did a stress test end of last week and did well during the actual test period, the treadmill and all that, the pictures were good...they said her heart is very strong. Unfortunately right after getting off the treadmill (but thankfully while still hooked up to the leads) she did experience some chest pain during what appeared to be a spasm. It was significant enough that they gave her morphine (which means it was some pretty big pain), and then ordered a cardiac cath for this morning. There was alot of confusion then, all due to lack of communication between the doctors and the filing of the test results...and she was almost discharged on Friday night...thankfully having lots of medical experience (she still is licensed Registered nurse) she knew what the cardiologist had said and told the floor doc she wasnt leaving until she spoke the the cardiologist. That I was impressed with...in a couple ways, first impressed that mom didnt grab the chance to be discharged...and impressed that she was really taking this search for answers seriously...and impressed in a very negative way that the doctors had made a potential mistake such as this. I talked with that floor doctor and as he tried to patronize and talk down to both my mom and me, my mom told him she was not trying to yell at him. He then looked to me and I said I was, indeed, yelling at him and that he would listen to all I had to say until I let him know I was finished. He looked like I smacked him, apparently not used to being talked back to. But this could have potentially been a very big deal, and I imagine how many patients who really dont have alot of medical experience, or are old and not really with it, or dont speak English well...seriously I believe they would just make the assumption that the doctors had discussed the situation and made a new call, hence the discharge..never questioning it. Thankfully this was not the case.
This morning mom was nervous, they had scheduled her for 1, and she had prepared with one of the nuns an advanced directive...she wanted me to be there before they took her and she wanted the directive witnessed by one of the volunteers (family or employees can't sign)...then they came to get her at 8:30 and she wasnt prepared. I got there after they'd started, obviously...and waited for the doc to come talk to me afterwards as I was told he would. But instead a nurse told me that they'd taken mom back to her room. Eventually I was called by the doc to go talk with him. Mom's heart is really strong, there are no blockages, no build up of plaque or anything....so she is not (and looks like she wont anytime soon) be having a heart attack. Good news. However, the ekg and the stress test did register spasms that were recorded, so they will be looking at how to manage that.
In the meantime I have prepared room at my house for mom to come stay with me for a few days after discharge. She wont be allowed to drive or even take alot of stairs for three days, so that will be best.
Mom still credits Erin with her early distress call, and wake up to taking this threat seriously. A healing touch practitioner who is an acquaintance of mine (she taught me to do some work with Erin) went to see mom at the hospital last night. Talked but no session that time. She will be coming to my home to work with both of us. This, I believe is what she needs.
You all know me, when I see something thrown at me a couple times in succession I take very keen awareness. And healing in an alternative way has shown itself to me in abundance over a few days time period. By three different people who don't know each other, and at separate times...it's been recommended that I have some alternative healing work, some balance...that sounds exactly like what I've been in search of....and apparently what my mom needs as well. No coincidences.....my counselor, Alex, calls that God-incidences.
i continue to be hyperfocusing on mom, and her recovery....and her management of this to avoid future problems. I have planned more time with Alex who is a fantastic man, he can kind of read my mind so I don't have to search frantically for the words to express my meanings....he just knows and validates all my feelings, everything I say and do and I feel free to be where I am at any given moment. That is a blessing.
I will keep you informed as things progress. Mom thinks she will be discharged today...we'll see. If that's the case I will bring her here to my home, as I said and I will write again in the next day or so to let you all know how we are coping.
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