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OT - Update on my cousin
I had a phonecall from my cousin on Saturday night after not hearing from
her in weeks... I email her everyday and Matthew chats with her son online everyday, so the messages she sent through her son was that she was "okay, just not answering email right now". It turns out that she hasn't actually been as "okay" as she was letting me believe. Within the last couple of weeks her medications were not working like they should, so the doctors were adjusting them, and the first time it didn't help... the second time helped a bit, but then started not working again. Last week she was in so much pain they put her on morphine and she was told if the pain became unbearable she could double the dosage. Because of being in so much pain and taking the morphine, both which keep her from being able to move too much... the muscle in her leg has become atrophied (sp) and now she is having a bit of a difficult time moving it... so she has to have massage therapy to try to help get her leg back in working order again. They have also set something up now where she doesn't have to actually go to her doctor or the emergency if she is feeling that she needs medical attention... now she calls and a doctor comes to her apartment to see her. They are also trying to set something up (which will start within the next few weeks) for someone to come and do housework and some cooking for her. Her son does help around the apartment, but he just found out that he may finally have a part-time job (he's been out of work since before Christmas and they had both been very worried about it)... it isn't the best, or the most steady job, but it is a job nontheless. The person the doctors are trying to set up to come to her apartment for housekeeping may also stay with her while her son is away working so she won't be alone in case she needs anything. Linda told me that the morphine is helping with the pain, but she is hoping when she sees the doctor this week they can get her on a higher dose of a previous medication she took that also seemed to help, instead of the morphine. She doesn't want to be on the morphine until it is absolutely necessary, because she figures when she *really* needs it, it won't work as well if she is taking it all the time now. I do understand her way of thinking, and she isn't a stupid person.. if the pain becomes unbearable she *will* use the morphine. My main concern about her getting around is that the kitchen is on the main floor, and she often sleeps on the sofa... however, the bathroom is upstairs. When I asked her about that and how she will manage, she said... when the time comes that I can't handle the stairs at all I will just end up staying upstairs. The bedrooms (one is being used as a computer room) are upstairs too. She said "When the time comes that Liam can't look after me anymore, and I simply can't get around at all... even just upstairs... *then* I will go to pallative care to live. Until then though, I don't want to think about moving again." Even though Matthew and I are having a lot of financial problems right now (with him still out of work since last October), my cousin is more important than anything we're going through. I seriously want to try to scrape together some money to make sure we have enough gas for the van to go see her again... and God forbid (but thinking realistically), when we get the phonecall from Liam that his mother has passed away we want to be able to be there for him as well. We are hoping we can go see them by the end of this month, as I honestly don't know how much longer Linda will be with us. She didn't sound good at all on the phone, no matter how hard she was trying to be positive and upbeat... her voice just didn't have the spark it always had before. ( Please send out good thoughts and gentle prayers for my sister-cousin Linda Cronan! *hugs* Gemini |
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#2
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OT - Update on my cousin
On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:35:06 -0400, Not Likely wrote:
I had a phonecall from my cousin on Saturday night after not hearing from her in weeks... I email her everyday and Matthew chats with her son online everyday, so the messages she sent through her son was that she was "okay, just not answering email right now". It turns out that she hasn't actually been as "okay" as she was letting me believe. Within the last couple of weeks her medications were not working like they should, so the doctors were adjusting them, and the first time it didn't help... the second time helped a bit, but then started not working again. Last week she was in so much pain they put her on morphine and she was told if the pain became unbearable she could double the dosage. Because of being in so much pain and taking the morphine, both which keep her from being able to move too much... the muscle in her leg has become atrophied (sp) and now she is having a bit of a difficult time moving it... so she has to have massage therapy to try to help get her leg back in working order again. They have also set something up now where she doesn't have to actually go to her doctor or the emergency if she is feeling that she needs medical attention... now she calls and a doctor comes to her apartment to see her. They are also trying to set something up (which will start within the next few weeks) for someone to come and do housework and some cooking for her. Her son does help around the apartment, but he just found out that he may finally have a part-time job (he's been out of work since before Christmas and they had both been very worried about it)... it isn't the best, or the most steady job, but it is a job nontheless. The person the doctors are trying to set up to come to her apartment for housekeeping may also stay with her while her son is away working so she won't be alone in case she needs anything. Linda told me that the morphine is helping with the pain, but she is hoping when she sees the doctor this week they can get her on a higher dose of a previous medication she took that also seemed to help, instead of the morphine. She doesn't want to be on the morphine until it is absolutely necessary, because she figures when she *really* needs it, it won't work as well if she is taking it all the time now. I do understand her way of thinking, and she isn't a stupid person.. if the pain becomes unbearable she *will* use the morphine. My main concern about her getting around is that the kitchen is on the main floor, and she often sleeps on the sofa... however, the bathroom is upstairs. When I asked her about that and how she will manage, she said... when the time comes that I can't handle the stairs at all I will just end up staying upstairs. The bedrooms (one is being used as a computer room) are upstairs too. She said "When the time comes that Liam can't look after me anymore, and I simply can't get around at all... even just upstairs... *then* I will go to pallative care to live. Until then though, I don't want to think about moving again." Even though Matthew and I are having a lot of financial problems right now (with him still out of work since last October), my cousin is more important than anything we're going through. I seriously want to try to scrape together some money to make sure we have enough gas for the van to go see her again... and God forbid (but thinking realistically), when we get the phonecall from Liam that his mother has passed away we want to be able to be there for him as well. We are hoping we can go see them by the end of this month, as I honestly don't know how much longer Linda will be with us. She didn't sound good at all on the phone, no matter how hard she was trying to be positive and upbeat... her voice just didn't have the spark it always had before. ( Please send out good thoughts and gentle prayers for my sister-cousin Linda Cronan! *hugs* Gemini Bless you Gem and your dear, dear cousin Linda too. She has never been out of my prayers since you first shared this sadness with us. I'll add extra for strength for you all and some for comfort for Linda in her suffering. With love Bernadette |
#3
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OT - Update on my cousin
"Bernadette" wrote in message
news On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:35:06 -0400, Not Likely wrote: Please send out good thoughts and gentle prayers for my sister-cousin Linda Cronan! Bless you Gem and your dear, dear cousin Linda too. She has never been out of my prayers since you first shared this sadness with us. I'll add extra for strength for you all and some for comfort for Linda in her suffering. Thank you so very much, Bernadette. I truly appreciate your kindness! *hugs* Gem |
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