The Place You Don't Wanna Be At
What comes to your mind when you hear the word "hospital"? It doesn't sound like a happy place to me. I can only think of sickness and death. On the positive side "recovered" and "to be discharged" sounds very nice.
My mother-in-law is in the hospital again. I remember the last time that we took her is when she contracted Shingles and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome which I shared here in read.cash with you. Now this time, she got a bad chest infection. She's 89 and even a simple cold is tough for her age.
We called for an ambulance on Thursday night because Mum can hardly breathe. She's crying and it making her condition worst. When the ambulance came and did some assessment, they gave her salbutamol to open up her lungs so she can breathe. They gave her fluids through her veins as she had not eaten or drunk properly for two days. She's dehydrated. She didn't sleep either. That's why even though she don't like us calling the ambulance we didn't hesitate.
They took her to the hospital but it takes almost 24 hours to get her into the ward as most of the beds are occupied since the pandemic until now. My brother and sister-in-law were with her as my husband has worked and I cannot leave the kids.
Today we visited Mum in the hospital. This time we didn't get lost thanks to my bro-in-law who told us the best way to get into Mum's ward. Her breathing has improved but is still far from normal. She is is still being herself, look at her smile!
It is nice to see her. She's complaining about how bored she was. As you can see, she got a coke. I wonder what the doctor thinks of that. She doesn't drink water no matter what good words we put on it. She loves milk. I brought her orange juice as well as she's complaining that the hospital gave her blackcurrant just which she doesn't drink.
The thing about the hospital now is there are no more chairs for the visitors. I'm taking that's because they don't want anyone to stay up too long. I told my husband that we're going to bring our chair next time lol.
She asks about the kids and how we are all getting on. She wants to know when is she going home. We told her, that as soon as the doctor says so. She missed the kids and told me to show her hands to them. She said they should come and rescue her. She wants to go home she said.
We go home and we will see her again the next day. But before that, she told me one more thing to say to the kids and so I recorded it.
She knows that they are good at messing up the house.
I laugh at "Carry on if you like!" 🤣🤣🤣
Just tonight around 7 pm I received a call from the hospital. My Mum wants to talk to my husband but he's at work, it's the nurse. I talked to Mum, she sounds so sad and asked if anyone coming to see her today. I told Mum, we'd been there this afternoon and that her other son will be there tomorrow and bring her papers for her to read. That's dementia starting. We already noticed it before but it looks like it's progressing now.
Mum forgot that we've been there. As I'm writing this, I can't help but cry. In old age, I hope she will not forget much. But I know for a fact that this is just the start and my sister-in-law has already given me advice and support as she knows I'm doing my best to look after Mum. They will forget and will get grumpy in a snap but I love Mum so I will do my best.
Get well soon Mummy! We missed you in our home sweet home. I hope that you will be discharged soon and that your good health is restored the soonest.
And to YOU who's reading this please look after yourself! BECAUSE HOSPITAL IS NOT A PLACE YOU WANT TO BE AT.
Thank you for reading. Thank you in advance for your prayers and well wishes.
ohh dear, I was both sad while reading and glad to see your mother-in-law healthy. You are very good. I love you