Disintegration…..

And so the shape of my days is changed in a flash of neurons going whacko in my mother’s brain.

For most of a year, I have been calling her in Minnesota 5-6 times a day to remind her to eat or take her meds. All in the family, as well as neighbors, have established a network of support and community in keeping her at home as long as possible.

Thursday, when she picked up the phone for my afternoon vitamins and snack call, she appeared to be speaking a very non-English language and complained that her tongue felt thick. So, it’s come, I thought, and readied my cell phone for the other ear to call for a “welfare check” from near-by police/rescue folks while I kept her on the line.

It was indeed a stroke. And they found one neck artery almost fully clogged, as well as a bladder infection. She is in the hospital now (hopefully for a minimum of 3 days so that medicare will cover it, as well as the next step). The stroke struck mostly speech centers, but also impacted her ability to swallow. She will need a skilled nursing facility for anywhere from 2 weeks to the rest of her life. My sister, my niece and her family are there for immediate care.

When I was there in November, I began the process of sorting and packing her things. Am waiting a bit to decide on my next trip so that I can be of greatest assistance to all. But it will probably be within the next 4-6 weeks. I had been planning on going about 2/22/10 so that I would be here to launch an official TuD presence at the Diabetes Expo 2/20. We’ll see.

And on Thanksgiving Day, my equally beloved and amazing mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer in multiple organs. Waiting on more tests next week to sort out options there.

Our Old Women are quite astonishing, aren’t they? Many of you have gifted to me stories of your own elders. I am working on a poem to honor how their essences vibrate with passion and humor even as their bodies flounder. Last month, my mother suddenly remembered being a child extra in LaBoheme when she was nine!

Be well all…..Judith