Thank you for your warm support, sympathy, and encouragement at my last post. I’ve written another post on the topic and will use your kind permission to think and feel my way through this portion of my life. My mom’s condition got more complicated yesterday when she fell on the way home from a weekly hair appointment just down the block from her condo. Luckily, my sister-in-law, who was with her, chose not to let the ambulance take Mom to the emergency room with its buckets and buckets of available germs. Instead, once they’d ascertained where all the blood was coming from, and speculated on a broken nose, Mom got bundled in gauze and taken home to rest until her own wonderful GP had a spot of time to set and stitch. Pain was not really an issue given the meds Mom’s on right now. My sister and SIL consulted, then called my Brother-in-law who used one of his Family Emergency days to dash home from work and drive mom to the doctor. Meanwhile, reassuring e-mails were sent out to all of us, so that we were kept apprised throughout. And last night, my brother and his wife made sure Mom was comfortable and that she followed the doctor’s instructions for sleep position, etc. I, meanwhile, had come to the end of my retreat time and had headed back to the island where I could only worry from afar. But all seems to be well and, really, I’ve decided to be pleased that Mom had the freedom to be out and about enough to fall. She might not have done so if she’d moved to a care facility, but walking is so important to her, and independence. I’ve seen three aunts (on both sides of the family) sink into almost catatonic states of depression once having been consigned to institutional care, and I guess I see a broken nose as much the lesser of the two evils.
At any rate, I feel in need of a distraction, and what better than the promise of spring. Mind you, the temperature is hovering at zero today, and the forecast suggests the possibility of snow just past the weekend. Meanwhile, though, these blooms won’t be stopped. Mahonia japonica, another of the fragrant flowers that brighten my winter. . . .
And various types of hellebore are springing up all over the yard.
The ribes sanguineum (flowering redcurrant) — both the White Icicle, as below
and the native red-flowering shrubs
are ready to burst open
and this Helleborus corsicus is almost there as well, sprawling right across our path as it does because I misjudged its future size when I planted it many years ago.
I’m off to work in our Writing Centre this morning, a bit curious about how many students are working on papers during this Reading Break. . . . may you have a lovely day!
Spring is settling in nicely in your garden. I am sorry to hear about your mother's fall. Wise not to have gone to the ER as the waits are hours and the germs are much too prevelant.
Take care
Yes, ER would be a dangerous place for her right now, and she has a wonderful GP.
Spring was all over my garden yesterday as I left for the mainland – working over here until Friday. My mum must be much like yours – the indignities and injuries and independence (!) of life in her own place are preferable to the thought of assisted living. So much falls on my dad, so it's good to have them on the Island for a few weeks. I have a feeling that this may be the last trip for them. Ontario is so far away when there's a crises.
Thank goodness you and your siblings can support one another as you support your mother.
My father-in-law has to take on quite a bit of my MIL's care, so we're relieved that they finally consented to move. They do have their own apartment, but can take meals communally if they wish, and they can get extra nursing and physio care as needed. My mom would have a tougher time, though, and the disrupted knowledge of place would perhaps dislodge all the links to memroy that keep her anchored right now.
So tough for you being that far away, but at least enjoy the time while you have them here with you. At least, as much as you can while still juggling work's demands. Take care.
Wow, what lovely photos – we had another snow storm blow through here last night!
Your mum is in such good hands!
Sorry, don't mean to show off our West Coast mildness — but against our grey skies and rain, some compensations are needed.
Spring is definitely on its way. It's good to be able to avoid ER because the hospital setting is hazardous for the frail elderly. For your mother's morale, it is important to be able to walk and go to the hairdresser.
Her independence really makes a difference, even if it's illusory, supported by so much family care. . .
I'm sorry to hear about your mother, and I'm glad it all turned out for the best. ERs are like giant petri dishes!
Thank you for sharing your lovely photos, especially of the hellebores. I just love them, and remember when I hiked the mountain range near Madrid (in my semi-misspent youth) they were always a sure sign of spring, no matter how winter wanted to linger. They have a wonderful name in Spanish — pie de grifo, or "griffon's foot" — my favorites are the ones just tinged with a little ruddy purple.
Really? so hellebores are indigenous in Spain? I'd love to see those blooming and wow a fabulous name. I do like the ruddy-tinged ones, but I'm also really keen on the ones that shine a soft lime green into the February grey . . .
Thank you for these lovely photos of spring's soon arrival.
I'm sorry to hear about your mother's accident, but pleased to know that the damage is not serious. Independence of some sort is so important. I'm glad you were able to avoid the ER.
Well, mine are no match for your gorgeous photos, but it helps me to pause and look and celebrate. . .
Sounds as if your mother has received such compassionate care from both the professionals and the family. Thank you for the beautiful photos.
There really are some great professionals out there, and we're so blessed that the same wonderful GP who used to make house calls to check on my Dad is doing the same, 13 years later, for my Mom. My sister sent her a big bouquet of flowers yesterday as an appreciation from all of us — she's truly a gift, that woman! A good old-school home-visiting doctor (although I suspect she doesn't do it for all her patients — she really had a soft spot for my dad, and my mom earned her respect by caring for Dad so well)
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I'm glad your mother could avoid the ER and that you have such a substantial support network with which to share the duties of care so she can maintain some independence.
I'll be curious to see when spring arrives here this year after what's been a mild winter. I'm guessing it still won't be until late April.
I'm curious too, to see when your spring arrives — I'm guessing you'll be posting the first thrilling blooms after your long, dark winter.