It’s been a lot

Hello everyone,

It’s been a lot around here lately. Sadly, I don’t have the energy to put much effort into a blog post this week but wanted to quickly throw something together so that #WWWhimsy could go ahead as usual and also to update you all on why I’m a bit absent and slow to respond lately.

It’s been (and still is) a very stressful, worrying, emotional and exhausting time. I know stress is so bad for us too but in this case I can’t avoid it. I’m trying my best to calm myself with yoga and meditations & I’ve just ordered myself some more Magnesium in the Black Friday sales!  I get this one by the way – tastes good and does a great job (not sponsored).

Some of you may already know the basics of what’s been going on, particularly if you saw my post on both Instagram & Facebook (see below) and if you follow my Instagram stories, but for those unaware, it’s best to start by reading this 16 November Facebook post below.

Since then, we’ve been at the hospital every day, until Mum acquired COVID whilst in the hospital. We watched her get sicker and sicker and I recognised the symptoms. We hadn’t seen her doctor in days to get any kind of update and the nurses couldn’t tell us much. Finally we kicked up a fuss and said we wanted contact from him. When he phoned I said I wanted her tested for COVID and other respiratory viruses currently circulating. He dismissed me, cut me off, told me he’d do it but she won’t have any of those things, and that I should brace myself for the fact that this might be the beginning of the end. He said this about three times. It’s been very distressing because though I know we won’t have a long time left with Mum, I knew that this was not the beginning of the end. I knew it was either Covid or some other respiratory virus.

All decked out in PPE. Eyes squinted because mask too close to eyes and the glasses/goggles fogging up. Not the most comfortable but worth it to see Mum!

Guess what, the COVID test came back positive. She’s been moved to a respiratory ward and put on antivirals, and we were told we’re not allowed to visit her. What gives me comfort is the fact that we were vigilant with her Covid boosters. She’s up to date having had her 6th shot on 24 October 2023.  Meanwhile my sister contracted Covid from Mum and is now isolated at home. I have remained Covid negative. I think this is because I had a booster in mid October and also had Covid in mid October so my immunity to it is very high at present. Here’s a link to a post that explains that!

The doctor phoned me the next day saying he’d have to eat humble pie and gave me a pathetic apology. I didn’t have the energy to say much. I just want my Mum well and out of that hospital.

On Monday 20 November I phoned the hospital and explained that Mum relied on me as her advocate and voice and that I needed to see her as I understood her and would know if there was anything she needed. They finally relented and I visited on Monday wearing full PPE gear (see photo). Unfortunately that was a one off exception and we’re not allowed to visit her again until the 7 days since testing positive has passed. I will be phoning on the day this post publishes to determine exactly when that will be and to see if we could at least talk to her on a phone.

When I visited her I could see that her Covid symptoms had improved – no more fevers or sneezing and head cold  but she still had a bit of a cough. She was also much better on her feet with the walker. Cognitively it was a different story. She was worse, but the longer I was there and talking to her the more she came back to how she was before all this. It goes to show how much she needs family and company and interactions with others. Too much time alone is not good for her which is why I’m very worried at the moment.

In addition to hospital visits and worrying about Mum’s health and welfare we are having to find an appropriate residential aged care facility for Mum and all the work associated with that.

That’s the short version of what has been happening around here lately. No time for details and my brain is too fried to write a properly thought out post so it’s best I keep this short.

I’m hopeful that Mum will soon be well enough to get out of that hospital and settled into a lovely new home. 

If you’re here to link up your post to #WWWhimsy – thank you! I will eventually respond to comments and read and comment on posts but I’m sure you’ll understand why this may take me awhile.  

Ciao for now,