13/02/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 13TH FEBRUARY, 2007.

PAUL AND SHENICE TRAVELLED FROM BOLTON TODAY TO VISIT MUM. 

A EVENTFUL DAY.  CALLED IN AT ST. GEORGE’S TO COLLECT ONE OR TWO THINGS FOR MUM AND WAS INUNDATED WITH LOVING CONCERN FOR THEIR MISSING RESIDENT FROM FROM ALL I MET.  WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT SHE WAS COMING BACK THEY, RESIDENTS AND STAFF, WERE OVERJOYED.

JUST BEFORE MUM WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL MARY, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS AT ST. GEORGE’S, PASSED AWAY.  SHE HAD POSSIBLY THE BEST ROOM IN THE HOME, IDEALLY SITUATED AND WITH A VERY PLEASANT OUTLOOK OF TREES, THE GARDEN AND DUCKPOND.  JANET, THE MANAGERESS IS HAVING IT REDECORATED AND SAID THAT MUM CAN HAVE FIRST OPTION ON THE ROOM IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO IT. I MENTIONED THAT SHE IS NOT AS MOBILE OR SELF-SUFFICIENT AS SHE WAS BEFORE GOING INTO HOSPITAL BUT THIS WAS BRUSHED ASIDE WITH “WE’LL LOOK AFTER HER!”  WHEN I TOLD MUM THIS AFTERNOON SHE WAS DELIGHTED AND IS NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING INTO THE NEW ROOM WHICH WILL BE DECORATED ACCORDING TO HER TASTE.

SHE ALSO HAD THE ULTRA-SOUND SCAN TODAY AND WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT IT REVEALED TOMORROW WHEN THE DOCTORS HAVE EXAMINED IT.  IN THIS CONTEXT WE TALKED ABOUT HER PREVIOUS “PREFERRED OPTION” REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF SURGERY AND SHE ACCEPTS THAT IF THE MEDICAL STAFF SEE NO NEED TO OPERATE THEY WILL NOT DO SO JUST BECAUSE SHE WANTS THEM TO. 

ANOTHER EXCITING REALISATION IS THAT THE CATHETER AND BAG WITH WHICH SHE HAS BEEN FITTED IN THE HOSPITAL CAN BE CONTINUED WHEN SHE RETURNS TO ST. GEORGE’S.  BECAUSE OF HER CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE SHE IS ON A LARGE DOSE OF DIURETICS TO RELEASE WATER FROM HER LUNGS AND THIS HAS MEANT THAT SHE COULD NEVER BE MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM A TOILET.  A CATHETER AND BAG WILL FREE HER FROM THIS RESTRICTION. “I’LL BE ABLE TO GO OUT!” SHE EXCLAIMED EXCITEDLY. “I’VE NEVER BEEN OUT SINCE I MOVED TO ST. GEORGE’S”. THE PROSPECT HAS REVOLUTIONISED HER PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.  IT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE TRIPS OUT DURING THE SUMMER, PETER HAS ALREADY INVITED HER TO STAY WITH HIM AND BARBARA FOR A WEEKEND - A NEW WORLD HAS OPENED OUT FOR HER TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE TO STOP HERE LONGER. THE ONLY LIMIT WILL BE HER SUPPLY OF “GET-UP-AND-GO” WHICH BECAUSE OF HER 93 YEARS IS DIMINISHED. BUT TO KNOW THAT SHE WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO GET UP AND GO NOW MEANS SUCH A LOT TO HER.

IN HERSELF, THIS MORNING SHE LOOKED A BIT DRAWN.  SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED OXYGEN DURING THE NIGHT AS PROMISED BY THE NURSING STAFF, BUT DID NOT NEED IT EXCEPT FOR ONE BREATHLESS EPISODE AROUND THREE AM WHICH SHE STRUGGLED THROUGH AND SURVIVED.  AT THESE TIMES SHE FEELS THAT SHE IS ON THE WAY TO MEET JESUS AND WAITS WITH ANTICIPATION FOR IT TO HAPPEN - NO DISMAY WHATSOEVER. BUT THIS TIME, ONCE MORE, IT DID NOT HAPPEN.  HER LEGS ARE, HOWEVER, STILL VERY SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL WHICH I THINK IS A MATTER FOR CONCERN.

WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM THE SCAN THIS AFTERNOON SHE LOOKED MUCH BETTER AND SAID SHE FELT BETTER TOO.  HER SPARKLE WAS BACK AND SHE SMILED A LOT.  TONIGHT SHE WAS A BIT MORE SUBDUED BUT TALKED AND SMILED STILL. I THINK SHE WILL BE TONS BETTER WHEN SHE GETS BACK TO ST. GEORGE’S AND CAN GET BACK INTO HER OWN ROUTINE AGAIN.  ONE GOOD THING, SHE IS EATING NOW AND ENJOYING IT. ALSO SHE HAS FOUND HER TASTE FOR CHOCOLATE AGAIN. SO THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL,

MUM AND TED.

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13/02/2007 by sue.

Hi everyone, dad I just wanted to say thanks for keping us updated on Gran’s condition. I would love to be able to pop in and see her each day and this is probably the next best thing, although I miss her hugs! Gran has already told us she is having twins, hence the mass, but I have suggested that there are enough Talbots without her adding extra now.

I am sure she was exhausted at the weekend by the volume of visitors she had but it was so good to see her. She had so much to say to us all as well. It was like she was trying to get a lifetime’s conversation into the short time of our visit. We all compared notes on our way home to East Yorkshire and over our pub meal at The Fleece in Bishop Wilton, a lovely place for a meal with a fine selection of beers too (ask Bryan and Andy),if you are ever in our area. Gran managed to tell us all a different tale about her life but then she has so many stories to tell having lived such a long and rich life. I guess she wants to be sure that she lives on in us and we will continue to pass on what we know about her and grandad and the impact she has had on so many people.

I do hope she is able to keep comfortable and I am not sure that surgery is the best option for her, if that is mentioned. It would be awful to see her in discomfort from the surgery and would probably take a long time to recover and heal. Experience tells me that if surgery can be avoided then that might be best. Yet the decsion rests with Gran and only she knows how she is feeling now. The mass could be causing extra pressure on her breathing too and causing more fluid to build up although that is probably her heart failure. Hark at me anyone would think I am an expert which I most certainly am not. Now if anyone wants to know about IVF etc then that is a different matter- I am your woman!!!

Time to go, the retired person in this household has prepared tea so I will go and do it justice. Beef Bourguignon I believe-yum yum!!

Speak soon. Love to you all and hiya Alan, hope you are well.

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