'Everything Old is New Again"

Mom is back at Augustana Rehab, after 12 days in the hospital.  It began one morning, when she got up from her wheelchair, to transfer to her bed for a sponge bath, became dizzy, but fortunately fell onto the bed.  I first phoned her doctor's office, and he told us to go to the emergency room.  The tests ruled out a major stroke or heart attack.  Further blood work showed she had a thyroid disorder, which caused the dizziness  and light headedness.  A few days later, her knees got very swollen, and painful.  Somehow, this condition is probably connected to her Ulcerative Colitis, which can do all kinds of wonderful things to connective tissue and joints.

For some strange reason, I am handling this stress far better than I did last Summer.  Part of me was so exhausted with Mom's emotional demands.  The bedpan, bathing and personal care did not bother me as much as her refusal to do her exercises once the physical therapist stopped making house calls.  Both Ginny and I would cajole, beg, scold, but Mom was steadfast in her refusal to get out of the wheelchair. It was a negative of 'Sunrise at Campobello"  perhaps "Sunset at Bay Ridge' would be a more accurate title.

Now that we ( my Sister and I -- I'm not using the royal 'we' like Queen Margaret of Scotland) understand that Mom had dizziness and pain from her knees, we are both more realistic in our expectations.  If the rehab can get her further than transferring from wheelchair to bed, God bless them, every one.  ( It is two months until Christmas ). 

More tomorrow.