Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Things Are Getting Worse...Please Send Chocolate

Mom had that sticker on our refrigerator the whole time I was growing up. She actually had talked about having me blog that quote for her (before Big Bro took over Mom's Recovery, and a fine job he's doing). I was a little worried readers wouldn't get the je ne sais quois quality and be alarmed instead...It's winsome and sad and true and, well, Mom.

She's doing better. Last week we were really worried. Her spirit just wasn't there. And it was so hard for her because it was the week she was supposed to be gone on a cruise...the week she'd been trying to work towards since last February when she booked it with her best friend.

And then she was left alone for several hours three separate days, waiting for tests in a hallway so long she ran through an oxygen tank. For the most part we like the hospital and the staff, but patient care isn't what it used to be anywhere. Nurse Sis tries hard but she can't be there 24/7 (even though she's always ready to spend the night there).

But now Mom's off the scary/irritating ventilator, and the biggest medical concern is that all the tests are negative. Can't find a reason for any of her symptoms (paging House?).

My biggest concern is always the mental. How to keep her in her normal positive outlook when every inch of her arms and stomach are black and blue from all the shots. So that usually involves sneak visits from Hero ("Mission Impossible" getting him past security every time), editing her autobiography, and watching that Playboy Girls Next Door (okay, we only did that yesterday. We both thought it was pretty funny.). Notice I didn't say reading. Right. Because I really effed up.

I couldn't find the new Dave Sedaris, so I took her "Naked" yesterday. And the chapters are mostly looooong. So I flipped through and found the short one because my throat hurt, and I started reading...and didn't stop, even when I realized Dave was GOING THERE talking about taking his Ya Ya to the convalescence home...and kept going until I read the part about Ya Ya dying alone in said organization. OH MY GOD.

I told Nurse Sis the sad situation, and she just stared at me like I was from Jupiter. So I said, "What was I supposed to do, stop in the middle and tell her this story wasn't for her?"

And my infinitely wiser sister said, "Yes."

Cripes. Come to think of it, that's a pretty good idea. Fucktard.

Like she needed me worrying her more after losing Peter Jennings, and all the dire statistics they're posting on lung cancer. Arrrgh.

9 comments:

Kidsis said...

Oh my. The above sooooo effing figures.

Modigliani said...

I've gotten those spam comments, too! *eeeerggggghghg!!!*
chocolate would be good!!! that makes me feel better for a minute, too.

Seriously, though, I thought of something as I was reading. You may know about it already, but what they hey... I figure if something pops in my mind it might be helpful to just say it. If you think it's dumb, then just ignore me! LOL!

Every hear of a Japanese religion called "Mahikari"? (this maybe sound cheesy, but seriously, it could be good.) I had a Jp. roommate who practiced this, and it was quite interesting to participate and observe.

They do something called "Giving the Light" -- it is VERY similar to Reiki, but the hands don't touch the body. My roomie would "give light" to lots of people. It's quite peaceful. She had one man who had terminal brain cancer. He was given 3 months to live, and ended up surviving over a year past that time while receiving light. He said it made him feel peaceful and soon even his pain and discomfort subsided. It wasn't a cure-all, but it was helpful to him. When he passed, it was painfree and peaceful, too.

I'm not saying it's a miracle cure-all, But if it brings peace and calm, why not? I'm sure LA has a Mahikari center, if it feels like something that may interest you.

Anonymous said...

Um, not to pile on, but...

Dana Reeve just disclosed to the media she has lung cancer.

You may want to lovingly censor your mom's news intake today.

MIM

Kidsis said...

Mo, thanks! Heard of Reiki, but your suggestion is a new one. Will definitely check it out.

MIM. You're effing kidding me. That poor woman. Poor mom. Argh.

Anonymous said...

Believe me, Leia, I wish I was.

Sorry about the animosity that's been brewing from posters on your blog recently. Write what you feel you want/ need to write...

...although, I mentioned to CC the whole Top 10 movies dicussion I raised with you. In this Age of Lists, it may be too broad to say your "Top 10 Favorites."

Maybe it could be --

Top 10 to take with you in event of being stranded on a desert island with working appliances and steady 110/ 220V?

Top 10 that you think define your philosophy/ personality?

And I know you did a Top 10 quotes list, but maybe a Top 10 favorite scenes? Not just lines, but full, acting-the-heck-out-of-it-scenes?

e.g. (1) Brando and Pacino in the garden, "I never wanted this for you" scene, The Godfather. (2) Gump and Jenny when he meets Forrest, Jr. -- remember when we saw it?

Just a thought. I know, I know, get my own blog. ;-)

MIM

Anonymous said...

OK. Not to take this off topic, but did you see this Defamer post?

http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/culture/index.php#stay-classy-los-angeles-116479

Uh... why am I leaving the Midwest?

NN

Kidsis said...

MIM, sounds good to me...which one do you want me to ask first? Your choice

NN, :) It's an untrimmed jungle here, I'm tellin' ya!

Cookie, ugh. Okay. Sounds really smart. I'm so sorry for what you went through...

Anonymous said...

Leia -- Your blog, lady, so your call. Sorry to sidetrack.

Again, hang in there with respect to your mom. Shield her if you can, but don't feel like you have to seal her off entirely. Do what can be managed; extra stress for her is also extra stress for you, and probably vice versa.

MIM

ronnie said...

Okay, I'm pissed. The closest I've gotten to a spammer on my blog was that moonbat itinerant preacher who said that if I just believed in Jesus, He would "return my hearing as if it was never lost". No Playstation posts. Not even a Nigerian scammer :(

However, if we are discussing personal mottoes (does motto get an 'e' in the plural?) that kept us going thru s#%t, "Things are getting worse - send chocolate" is a five-star suggestion. On my own fridge for the past year, I have had the following advice from Winston Churchill (or as we colonials call him familarly, "Winnie") to greet me each morning:

"When you're going through hell - keep going."

love,
ronnie