photo: Martha G. Brady
Thud! I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. There was Ron on the bottom of the bathtub. He had fallen during his shower. I’m not sure if he passed out for a second or two but he was conscious when I arrived…just a little bewildered.
We worked together to get him up on the stool in the tub. Yes, the one I would like him to sit on during his shower so he won’t fall. But he doesn’t want to. So twice, he has fallen. So far, no broken bones.
Very soon after he was up on the stool, he stiffened, his eyes rolled back in his head and his breathing slowed. He became pale with a cold sweat covering him and he was unresponsive. I screamed his name! Finally, on about the fifth yell, he responded. He didn’t want to open his eyes, but eventually he did.
Very soon after he was up on the stool, he stiffened, his eyes rolled back in his head and his breathing slowed. He became pale with a cold sweat covering him and he was unresponsive. Share on XOf course, I didn’t have my phone with me to call 911. But the episode was short lived and he responded pretty quickly. As I asked him all the orientation questions, he responded correctly.
This was in stark contrast to the last time he had a similar episode. That time, he had a stroke, a small one, but a stroke just the same. But he was very slow to get back to breathing normally and his oxygen levels stayed low even after the paramedics started O2. His confusion lasted much longer that time too!
After being in the hospital a few hours, processing through blood work, CT scan and MRI, we waited to see if Ron would be admitted. He was, even though he didn’t have a stroke.
Yes, we are piling up hospital admissions as the years tick by. This is #5 over the past 3 years. For some reason, as I have faced the summer, I have had this sense of dread wondering if this summer would be similar to last summer when we had 3 hospitalizations including 2 strokes. One of them was especially traumatic for me. I couldn’t get the picture of him unconscious and unresponsive, out of my mind.
Yes, we are piling up hospital admissions as the years tick by. This is #5 over the past 3 years. Share on XSo that is where we are. So far, it seems there is no stroke. Initial testing seems to show he is doing ok.He had just gotten up and hadn’t eaten yet so he was a little dehydrated from not eating yet for the day. He has had some IV’s and they have perked him up for sure!
It looks like our discharge will be early tomorrow afternoon…I can only hope!
The neurologist visited this afternoon. We need a couple more tests but we should be able to be discharged by early tomorrow. And that is what happened! We should be able to get to the wedding, leaving on Sunday for the Memorial Day wedding.
It doesn't seem that life ever goes very smoothly. These days less so when health issues tend to suddenly pop up to interfere with our plans. It is a continuing reminder that we truly do not have control over our lives. Share on XWe are learning to hold our plans lightly in our hands. Yes, we plan, but we know that those plans may or may not take place. Sometimes events we want to be involved in don’t get to happen because Ron is in the hospital. Ultimately, our hope has to be in GOD during this time that can be difficult.
Wild! It doesn’t seem that life ever goes very smoothly. These days less so when health issues tend to suddenly pop up to interfere with our plans. It is a continuing reminder that we truly do not have control over our lives. We do what we can along the way, but there are too many variables as we get older and health issues increase or worsen.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.Psalm 33:20-22
