Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Missed Feature

Last night, when I should have been writing today's feature, I was at the ER with my Mom instead. I was ready for blogging and bed when I got a call from Mom's caregiver. She had called 911. Mom had fallen and hit her head on a table. She was bleeding - a lot.
 
I raced over, ignoring "the traffic rules" (what red light?), and got there just as the guys from the McLean FD were wheeling her out. I had to walk in and up the long driveway because they had the whole street blocked with their emergency vehicles. As I got there, they were wheeling her out.
 
My first question: is she making sense? One said, "Oh sure, but she has a deep cut and will need stitches. I gave them her drug list, grabbed her wallet, and beat them to the hospital.
 
Long story short, Mom got her new bright red hair cleaned up. It was a lovely shade for Christmas. She has staples in her scalp. Her CT scan was good. No subdural bleed. All in all, very lucky! Only three hours at the ER.
 
Now, four hours short of sleep, I'm at work. Thank God my 91-year-old Mom is OK. We don't need another emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma!
 
I'll be writing when I get home.
 
Photo courtesy of flickriver, which means I don't know the true credit

47 comments:

Lynda O said...

Not gonna lie - I read this post because of the cute cat picture. I'm glad to hear that your mother is okay! My mom is only 50 and I'm not looking forward to the time when she's 90!

Anonymous said...

glad your mom is okay. always scary when an elderly person falls. i remember when i found my grandpa in the bathroom after he slipped and fell when i was 7. i also work at the hospital and see so many people fall daily. anyway, i wanted to let you know that i LOVE your blog posts. they are so elegant and beautiful all the time. you have great taste in products. have a great day!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry to hear of your mum's fall.Wishing a speedy recovery to your mom.

Eileen said...

What an ordeal! At that age, the skin is as fragile as tissue paper and just seems to tear and bleed at the slightest provocation. Add to that a head wound, and I can imagine the bleeding! I hope your mom heals quickly and without any collateral problems. I know you and her caretaker will make sure she gets the attention she needs to make a good recovery. As for you, Charlestongirl, take some time to get caught up on your beauty sleep and to get over that adrenalin rush you must have experienced. We're all wishing you and your mom the best and most positive of thoughts and prayers.

Unknown said...

Hope your mother recovers soon. And you get some rest too. Take care.

Christina said...

Goodness! So very glad to hear that your mom is okay! May she recover quickly!

Suselew said...

Praying for a speedy recovery!

bisbee said...

CG - glad it wasn't more serious. Take some time to relax and check on your Mom...we can wait for your next post!

And Lynda O - my goodness! Your mother is so young - younger than me by 12 years! She's only 50 - WAY too early for you to be worrying about what will happen when she's 90! Relax!

Walls said...

Happy to hear that your mother hasn't any serious injury. Good luck at work today!

natassha68 said...

Sorry to hear of your moms fall! get well wishes & prayers her way .

Charlestongirl said...

Thanks, everyone. I am surviving on Excedrin and Diet Coke. Mom says she feels fine.

BooBooNinja said...

Oh CG, I'm glad your mother is ok. My grandmother is almost 95 and lives on her own. After a few falls, she has reluctantly allowed a home care support worker to spend 1-2 hours with her every day. She has a strong independent streak, and I hope we can nurture that as long as we safely can.

Jo said...

Hi CG, I'm sorry to hear about your mom's fall but I'm glad that she is OK. I lost my 83 year old mother earlier this year so I'm a little jealous that you get to have yours into her 90's. You take such good care of her. She is lucky to have you. Take care, we can wait for your next posting until after you've had some rest.

Virginie said...

Glad to hear she is OK.

onegreatsmile said...

I think falls are more lethal to geriatrics than diseases. I can't tell you how many people have lost aging relatives to slip and trips!! Hope Mom's OK, CG!!

Anonymous said...

Good what ends good, as they say! I wish your mom all the best!

Unknown said...

We can wait in the "pretties" report. I am glad the fall was no worse than it was. Such a scary thing. Take care of yourself and get some rest. I wish your mother a speedy recovery.
Btw, great picture!

VancouverChic said...

I hope your mom recovers totally too. Take care of yourself CG.

Warm Regards,
Joanne ~ VancouverChic

Soni said...

Well good night nurse!!! I was scared just reading your post and hoping that it wasn't going to be really bad news. Thank heaven for small miracles. That must have scared you out of your skin!! Not fun. Obviously your mother is in good hands and is being well taken care of. Who takes care of you? I think you'll need some extra pampering this week. Doctors orders include but are not limited to: facial mask, long soak in the tub, glass of wine (or two or three), heck maybe even a massage. That kind of adrenaline rush can result in all kinds of knots & kinks.
Please take care of yourself!!

Melanie said...

Glad that your mother is OK. Hope you and she can get some rest.

virginiaisforluvrs said...

Glad to hear your mom is doing ok after falling! She's lucky to have you near.

Linda said...

I hear you, CG. Spent yesterday in the hospital with my 92-year-old dad while he underwent cardioversion (i.e. shock) therapy on his aged heart. Those scary telephone calls are becoming almost a weekly thing in my house. My best to your mom, and to her daughter.

Bella said...

Wow! What a stressful night! I am glad your mom was not seriously hurt. I wish her a speedy recovery and my prayers are with your family.

Tara said...

I'm glad you're mom is ok. And I'm glad you only had to spend 3 hours in the er!

Chateepatee said...

How wonderful to still have your Mom at 91! Bless her heart- so pleased she is doing fine and was able to return home. Any sort of head wound produces so much bleeding- OH MY- you must have been frightened half to death!
Get your rest CG-& give my thoughts and well wishes to your Mother.

Anonymous said...

Well, I am so glad she's "OK" more or less. I have recently moved back home to live with my 89yr old Mom but I have to leave her every so often to go back to my state to work. Every time I leave I wonder what might happen to her. It is this chapter in our lives when the tables are turned and we need to worry and care for our parents, and full of many difficult decisions. We are so lucky they are still here to enjoy, and just like children, that joy comes with a lot of extra work. Sending good thoughts to you both.

Anonymous said...

So good to hear that your mother is okay! Blessings to you and your mom!

nn21 said...

Thoughts and prayers for your mom's speedy recovery. Take care

Anonymous said...

I am so glad your mom is ok! My grandmother is turning 92 on December 2 - in the last 10 years we've gone through a broken hip, broken spinal disc and a heart attack along with a couple trips to the ER "just to be sure". You are such a wonderful, caring daughter, and your mother is so blessed to have someone like you in her life! I will be praying for a speedy recovery sans complications for her, as well as some much needed comfort and rest for you!

roxymisha said...

So pleased that your mum has been attended to quickly and I wish her a speedy recovery. It is such a shock getting an emergency call like you did and then waiting to see the outcome. Take care and treat yourself kindly today.

Niki

Unknown said...

Speedy recovery! Adrienne

Karin said...

Head wounds are so scary! Glad your mom is going to be okay. Glad you're okay too! Driving like a maniac only saves you a minute or two at best.

C-K said...

Very scary news, but I'm glad that your mother is okay. I hope she has a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to hear about your mother but I am so glad it looks like everything will be ok. Sending good thoughts!

Anonymous said...

I am so relieved your mom is okay and very sorry this happened. Take good care of both of you.
Warmly,
Tanja

Anonymous said...

Ouch...prayers to your mom for a speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

So jealous you still have your mother, what a blessing. I wish your mom a very speedy and healthy recovery. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Take a great warm bath and a couple glasses of wine and sleep really well and get some great rest as you probably really need it

Jay
Jaymakeup@aol.com

Lisa C said...

I'm SO glad to hear she's doing alright. It's very hard to watch our parents age. My mom stayed down south in the winter and in the Carolina's in the summer. I remember her staying with me for a short while and one day when I came home from work, I found her on the floor. She fell and couldn't get up. You don't know how bad I felt about that. She had been there for hours. I just never thought that it would get to that point with her, because she always always was able to get around and do for herself. I guess that's why its so hard to watch them age. But good news for your mom! GOD BLESS our moms!!

angusmum1 said...

Wishing your mother and you as well, a quick recovery!! Prayers

Bonnie C. said...

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers, I hope she recovers quickly! :-)

grlnxdor said...

Here's hoping your Mom has a quick recovery and you can get some much needed rest. I've been in your shoes and I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Liz said...

I'm so glad she had a caregiver there to call for help right away. Makes such a difference!

Mamavalveeta03 said...

Sorry about your mom. It's so hard to watch them go through health scares and accidents as they grow older. My parents are headed that direction, and it's scary for me as well as them. Thinking of you, CG!

Bonnie C. said...

I was also going to mention that I thought it was so great that you went with your mother to the hospital, that is soo important to do! Our family has learned this from experience, and we try to tell as many people as we can to always make sure that someone is with a loved one in the hospital. It's sad, but unfortunately true, that patients who have someone there with them get better care, and it is always better to have a second set of eyes and ears, especially if the first set is ill or injured. Hope you've been able to catch up on your rest a little.

Christina said...

I am so glad to know that she is okay and healing.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry about your mum, I expect she's recovering soon!

Claire said...

So sorry about your mom, CG! I hope she's now in the mend.