Photo: Ileana Johnson 2015 |
The changing
pressure is wreaking havoc inside my painful knees but I must stay mobile to
see mom and to help my hubby recover from chemo. Today was a good day, she was
happy, in less pain, and recognized me.
As always, I
bring candy bars and chocolate to mom’s neighbors who are not diabetic. When I
first got off the elevator I encountered the retired sailor with a proud tattoo
on his wrist. He is always smiling and watching those who come and go on the
keyed elevator. We always chat a bit and sometimes I bring him a couple of
pieces of wrapped chocolate.
Mimi and I
adopted Lakshmi across the hall from mom’s room. We have no idea what she says,
she chatters in her Indian dialect that only her family and personal physician
understand. Her room has no decorations at all; as soon as her family puts
pictures on the walls, she takes them down. She refuses to wear any other
outfit except one favorite dress. When the staff bathes her, they dress her in
clean clothes but she changes quickly back into her favorite dress. I take her
chocolate every time. We only truly communicate when she greets me with “Namaste.”
Last week
Mimi ordered pizza for mom. Lakshmi and Maria came into the room and everybody
ate pizza and watched TV – Lakshmi does not have a TV in her room. She is highly
mobile and often checks in on mom to
make sure she has not fallen. Mom can barely stand now.
One day mom
was eating breakfast in her chair and Lakshmi came in and made her bed. It
seemed to give her joy to do that so we let her. It is almost comical to watch
them huddled in the hallway, talking to each other in their respective languages,
not one understanding what the other said, yet they nod and smile as if they
have just shared a funny story.
It is so
lonely for these residents, most of them don’t have any family visiting them at
all or visit them infrequently. I cannot imagine not going to see my mom two or
three times a week. Americans are a funny bunch, they talk about how much they
miss their families, especially after they died, yet while the loved ones are
still alive, they never take the time to go see them, to tell them in person
how much they missed them. As a European who grew up with a very large extended
family, I find that odd.
During Bingo
days, Mimi and I take hand lotion bottles for prizes and bags of Lindt chocolate
as a treat. The social worker makes sure those who are diabetic only get sugar
free treats.
Mimi bought a
large birthday cake for everyone on Mardi Gras. It was not a King cake, nobody
at our local grocery store even heard of Mardi Gras much less bake such a
special treat. But the residents were so happy!
I hope and
pray that God continues to keep me mobile so I can bring a little joy to a few
of the residents in mom’s nursing home, especially those who are immobile and
trapped in their rooms. Mobility is a blessing that most of us don’t appreciate
until we lose it in the twilight of our years.
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