Monday, July 26, 2021

Accidents Happen/moms & daughters


Things in my life have been on a downward spiral... for a while now, regarding health issues and family. It’s hard to put a smile on my face, since everything seems so depressing.  Truth is, writing just hasn’t been in the cards, lately and I'm missing my blog buddies. As you all know, we lost our dear kitty Mira after 18 years, less than a month ago. I still expect to see her where she’s obviously not going to be. I know her spirit and her sister’s are everywhere around us, so that should comfort me. But it doesn’t. I need to see that sweet face and big eyes, up close and personal. SIGH. Reality kicks in. My hubby's breathing issues are at a critical point. Not just because of the COPD. But because his heart has a twisted aorta and his left ventricle is only functioning at less than 50 percent? Surgery would probably would be dangerous. My dad died two years ago, six days after he had his heart surgery. The thought of losing my hubby so close to Mira’s passing would be devastating.  He’s not keen on doing anything to alter the staus quo, though he seems to be getting worse. That frightens me. Every night I pray he makes it through the next day. Maybe I'm being a tad bit over dramatic? But... it is what it is. He's had MORE bad days, than not. Today was a very good day for him, though. I am grateful. He has a doctor's appointment at end of week.  Finally he's going to ask where to start, so he can have a better quality of life? Meanwhile, back on the East Coast my mom, whom we haven’t seen for over one and a half years, took a tumble on the way to the bathroom at 4am. All alone, she struggled to pull herself up. After difficult maneuvering, she  managed to do it, by scooting on her rear,  to the top of the stairs, dangling her feet over the edge, and grabbing hold of the wrought iron railing, in the hallway above. Frankly knowing how steep those stairs are, I felt terror, knowing how harrowing, that solution was. A week has passed and she’s none the worse for wear. Thank goodness. But still I shudder to think about her in a bloody heap at the foot of those stairs with a broken neck and no one knowing. Scary.  She also has heart issues and like my hubby doesn’t want an operation cause of my dad dying, like he did. My brother from the West coast will be there at the end of the month, so that visit should do her some good. And he'll go to the doctor with her to discuss her condition. But our troubles don’t stop there.  My older daughter has surgery soon. I’m her ride to and from hospital. Hoping she gets a good outcome. Fingers crossed. My youngest daughter, on top of having lingering Covid effects, and being immune compromised. She  was hospitalized for bleeding ulcers.  14 days later she is improving. And is attempting work in person, next week.  Again fingers crossed. Despite all this chaos around me, I’m trying to keep upbeat. My mobility and health issues are keeping me struggling too. But since I'm the glue holding everything together, I can't focus on that. Unfortunately, I keep accidently  keep falling down, hurting myself. I don't know if it's because I'm distracted by everything else??? Or just a string of bad luck. It's one thing after another. I took a tumble a few months ago, like my mom just did, really messing up my shoulder. Time healed it. But I was crawling the walls, grounded more or less, while everybody I knew, has headed out on vacation, to unwind and distract from the past year of Covid. And mostly to have some FUN. Seems the ill effects are still lingering here on our home front, though. And it is frustrating to watch other families having a good time, while we are not. I feel guilty for feeling envious. Daily I drain my brain, thinking  peaceful,  healing thoughts. Or shop for things I really don't need online. And pray the situation in our family improves. The other day however, added insult to injury. I had broken down some cardboard boxes making a big  pile in the living room. I was trying to clean a small part of the garage. Remember that project?? I asked my hubby to hold open the front door, so I could put them out in the trash. We don’t have recycling here. So I scooped up the cardboard and walked out the front door. The first step down was fine. No problem. But when I went to step off the second one, the back of my shoe hit the edge of  it, and splat I went onto the cement sidewalk below and partly into the bushes, full of poison, whatever??? Cardboard scattered everywhere. I was more upset that my thrifted pants might have a hole on them??? Than how much pain I was actually in. Every part of my body was crying out in agony. I glanced downwards at my arm and hand just in time to notice a snake was slithering away. And bugs of a million sorts were crawling all over the dirt, grass and some on my extremities. I started screamimg, louder and louder.  I had been like a turtle on it’s back. I couldn’t right myself and my hubby‘s efforts to help were fruitless. I could not pull myself up no matter how hard I tried. I was a beached whale. But seeing the snake got me moving what little bit I could. It just wasn't enough to get me off the ground. My spouse had had enough and was going to call 911. We were both afraid he might end up on the ground with me, if he tried to0 hard to help. I convinced him to let me regain my footing. (Bad pun, sorry.) I needed  some more time.  He relented. And I was able to concentrate on turning over. Then crawling back to the stoop. The lower step I had fallen off, was going to be more helpful now. It was higher than I would have liked, but I believed if I were persistent...  I’d be able to use it to help me out of the situation I found myself in. Fifteen minutes later, my efforts paid off. I was able to use my elbows on the step, to push my legs up, pivot and actually sit on it. It was exhausting.  My hubby, then helped pull me up to a standing position.  Needless to say, I was traumatized by the whole thing. I was trembling and weak... when he helped to get me through the front door... so I could lay down on the sofa. My shoulder suffered the most damage. But the other parts on my right side weren’t really doing that well either.  I iced what I could,  took aspirin and slept through to early afternoon, the next day. I can not believe this has happened to me again. Another fall. More healing needed. It’s very embarrassing and I’m beside myself, 
over the 'damage' to my body. 
My poor fragile bones.
I mean how much more can they take???  
I'm not a spring chicken.
But I'm not that old???



13 comments:

Practical Parsimony said...

Oh, FALLS! I have not fallen in several years due to my holding onto railings going down stairs and steps. Next time, throw the boxes down the step...lol. Then, go pick them up.

Sorry about all the worries with the health of your family. I know it must be worrisome.

Stay safe.

Donna. W said...

I'm so sorry you and your husband (and the other family members you mentioned) are going through these horrible things. As my mother used to say, "When it rains, it pours." And you are certainly in a storm right now. I hope things get better for you.

jack69 said...

OUCH!!! Sorry to hear about the falls. Fortunately so far I have been able to get up after a fall, but always think of my mom's first fall and I was 300 miles away.
Thinking of you and sending the most positive of thoughts to you and your hubby. WE are glad you can still record and REMEMER the incident, that is a good thing.
Oh yes, wishing you, hubby and your mom the BEST.
Love from NC
Sherry & jack

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I'm so sorry your can't seem to get a break there. One thing after another. I'll be praying that thins turn around for you soon. They say to think positive, but I can see how hard that would be for you right now. Sometimes we just have to let it all go and let God. Try to take a deep breath and remember a bad day yesterday will not mean a bad day today. Every day is a bright and new one to enjoy as best we can.

Mevely317 said...

Oh girl, I'm so sorry to learn of you and your family's challenges. That had to be so frightening, lying on the ground unable to get up. Have you considered getting one of those alert buttons necklaces? One of my friends from Bible study just got one -- for her own peace of mind.
Lifting prayers!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Sorry to read about all the medical issues facing you and your family members, then those nasty falls suffered by your mother and yourself. You truly seem to be the glue holding everyone together. Hope your daughter's surgery goes well as you can use some good news for sure. Walking down steps carrying things is always a challenge and yikes to see a snake when you were down and out, even more so!

Unknown said...

Oh my, you and your family have had a terrible time lately. So sorry. Please, please hold on to the railing next time you're going down those steps. Even if you have to make 3 or 4 trips to the trash can. It's better than falling. All I can do on my end is pray for you, your hubby, your mom and youngest and oldest daughter. Things will get better for all of you. Don't give up!

Red Rose Alley said...

Taryterre, I'm so sorry so many things are happening to you and that you took a bad fall. I hope you have healed since I'm writing this. They say when it rains, it pours, and that seems to be true at times in our lives. You know, you have great endurance, and we Taurus' have perseverance until one day we break, and I could feel it through the computer screen when you said you laid there on the ground and just screamed. I am deeply sorry your youngest daughter got the virus, that is terrible. I hope she is feeling better. And I hope your other daughter's surgery goes well. And I hope your Mom is doing better after taking a tumble too. Oh, so much happening in your life, Taryterre, but hand in there, my dear Taurus friend. And take some time for yourself. We tend to take care of everyone else, don't we?

love, ~Sheri

TARYTERRE said...

THANK YOU. I appreciate all your heartfelt comments. they mean the world to me. Blog buddies are the best. we are just going through a bad spell right now. But "this too shall pass." And I'll be back to writing about better times.

Jon said...

My heart breaks when I hear of all you problems and I can fully identify with your plight. This past year has been the worst of my life and it seems that you are enduring a similar fate.
Falls are extremely dangerous and a very common hazard around the house. I destroyed my spine when I fell on the ice. I hope that, somehow, you are mending and staying well (easier said than done...)
I admittedly got teary-eyed when I read your post about your cat Mira dying.

It seems like the problems NEVER end....but I hope there is a ray of light on the horizon. Take care, my friend.

Jon said...

Please excuse any typos

Buttercup said...

You've had (and are having) a miserable time. How is your shoulder doing? I broke my shoulder by falling in my living room. Prayers and healing wishes!

Susan said...

My dear Taryterre. Oh, you have had your share of misfortune. I am SO SORRY to hear about all of this. I do pray things will start to turn around for you. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Susan