Sorry to be so slow to get anything up on the blog since I left. I did have someone in Utah offer to post to the blog, but I think time's been an issue, so it hasn't happened yet.

I'm including here an email from my sister Martha about Dad falling recently:

"Last night just after 10:00 we got a call from the nursing home. 5 minutes after the staff got Dad settled for the night, he got up on his own and walked over toward the sink where he fell and cut his head, on the crown, (a T-shaped cut, but with a short stem and long cross-stroke). They had cleaned it up and had him in a wheelchair. We took him to the emergency room, where they decided it didn't need stitches. They did a chest x-ray because he said he had some pain on one side, and a CAT scan to make sure there was no brain bleed. Both were clear. We got him back to the care center and ourselves home by about 1:30.

"The very helpful young man who was on duty [at the care facility] then showed me the two alarms they have for him now. (Apparently the one that has been attached to him and the bed was missing.) They have one pinned to his pajama top that pulls a cord out of the wall and makes a loud noise if he tries to sit up. They also have installed a motion sensor in the plug low on the wall just out from the head of his bed. It works much like the one we used at home. Any legs hanging over toward the floor will set it off. So will anyone standing close to the side of his bed, so we all need to learn to turn off the switch on the side of it when we visit and be sure to reactivate it when we leave.

"The nurse had given Dad some Tylenol before we got there last night, and he was in very little pain while we were there. The hospital sent some antibiotic cream to be put on the wound several times a day. They have those instructions at the care center. I imagine that his head may be more painful the next few days, but feel very grateful that the injury was not much worse. I talked to Dad twice about the importance of getting help when he needs to get up, but I doubt that he will remember. When we were visiting last time I used the call button to get someone to help him to the bathroom and he had no idea how to do that! I think they are doing the best they can to keep him safe."

Now it's Alison again: I haven't been able to speak to Dad since I moved to Pennsylvania in early January. Those of us who don't live nearby are dependent on family members in Utah phoning us when they visit Dad, so we can talk to him. I'm sad to say I haven't received a phone call yet.

However, I have heard from several family members that Dad's been more talkative recently, speaking in full sentences, enjoying conversations. Martha told me that recently when she and her husband, Dave, visited Dad in the evening, he said it was nice to have someone to say goodnight to. Martha was sorry she didn't think to have prayer with Dad, but plans to visit again in the evening and have prayer with Dad.

But Dad's not consistently aware and engaged. Here's a recent email from my sister Louise (Lucy to the family). She's been in Pennsylvania visiting her daughter Britta and Britta's family--especially Lucy's grandkids there:

"We saw Dad last night and I was never sure he knew who I was. I told him about my trip, but I think he got tired of listening. I'm sure he didn't know who I was referring to much of the time when I was talking about grandkids and great grandkids, and if he didn't know who I was on top of that, I can certainly imagine him getting tired of listening. He asked to go out in the front and watch TV, so we took him out, and he apparently stayed for 1-1/2 to 2 hrs."

Back to Alison: Dad's got a bedsore, but the staff now has a schedule for turning Dad, and Barbara, Dad's nurse, is impressed with what the care center is doing and believes the bedsore will heal quickly. Barbara also reported that Dad mostly responded to her with tongue clicks and gestures.

I'll try to make sure that someone posts to the blog more often. Thank you to all of you for your love and interest in Dad.

Lucy

- Show quoted text -

How Dad's doing through 1/3/10

This last week, in addition to the usual family members, Dad's had visits from my brother Alan (who lives in the DC area) and from the bishop of our ward. He's had a card from my sister Christie in Pittsburgh with pictures of his newest great-grandchild, Eliana Sophie Hamilton, Christie and Duane's first grandchild, daughter of their oldest daughter Ruth Seppi Hamilton. (Dad's 21st great-grandchild, if I'm counting correctly.)

Dad spoke by phone to Christie and her son Jonathan today while I was visiting Dad, and he received a card from his beloved student and then colleague, Elouise Bell. Elouise wisely sent a picture of herself, and Dad was able to read some of the card--trifocals and reading while in bed make focusing tricky! I mentioned that Elouise looked much the same to me, and Dad agreed.

Dad seemed a bit more alert today than he was yesterday or last week, responding with full sentences at times when he spoke. I talked to him about something I've mentioned to him before but that I don't think he remembers--I'm moving to Pennsylvania on Friday to live with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. I don't know that he'll remember this time either, and I don't know if it's better for him to remember or not.

I'd heard that at supper time, Dad asks the aides where his daughter is--that made me feel sad! So yesterday and today (my days to visit Dad this week), I arrived at supper time and helped Dad eat.

After supper today, I suggested we have family prayer, and I knelt by his bedside, just as I used to do at home. I reached under the covers to hold Dad's hand, apologizing because my hand was so cold. As I said the prayer, Dad gently rubbed my hand to warm it up. I was so moved by his loving gesture that I could hardly say the prayer. It was a precious moment that I hope I will always remember!

You may be wondering what will happen to this blog now that I'm moving away. Having received a thundering silence from my family on the subject of who is going to take over from me, I've decided I'll keep it going long distance. That will give me a chance to keep current on Dad's situation and keep in contact with my siblings and other family here. I'll try to update the blog at least every other week.

My brother John has agreed to bring his laptop with a webcam when he visits Dad and do a video conference with me, so I can see Dad, and Dad can see me. It won't be the same as being able to kiss him, adjust his bed and pillows, help him eat and drink, and hold his hand, but it will be better than not being able to see him at all!

Thanks to all who've let me know you're reading my blog--it's the only way I know I'm not just shouting into the void. And as always, thank you for your love and interest in Dad.