Hi all,

Another update.

I just got off the phone with the lady who broke her hip.   Would you
believe that after only one day of bed rest after surgery, they
already had her up taking one or two steps on it?   Amazing.   They
also had her sitting in a chair for a little bit.   Of course she is
still in pain, and she said that putting even a tiny bit of weight on
it was very difficult and excruciatingly painful, but she is heartened
that the long road to recovery now can begin.   As I hung up the phone
the nurse was bringing her a blood transfusion to replace some of the
blood she lost during this episode.   She's a very spunky lady for her
age and walks a lot, so she will probably recover well from this, but
first she will go to a rehab hospital to regain the use of her leg
again.

Last weekend when she first went to the hospital I told my father that
I was afraid for him to take a shower alone in the house.   He refused
to listen to me, and said he would do it anyway.....but I found out
tonight that when his lady friend told him not to do it he listened
and therefore did not take his shower.   (He doesn't have a walk-in
shower, only a shower over the tub, so he has to step over a pretty
high tub rim to get in and his balance isn't that good, which is why I
was concerned).   I was so glad that she was able to pursuade him not
to do it.    She also told him she didn't think his trying to ride the
bicycle was a good idea and I think he actually listened to that
also.    So you can see that this lady is the ONLY person who can do
anything with him at all.

We are all trying to look after him the best we can, but still being
sick with a very bad cold I don't dare drive down there for at least
another week when I hope it will be pretty much over with.   The last
thing either of them needs at 89 and 95 is a cold that could possibly
turn into pneumonia.

Why is it always the way..... when an elderly person is stubborn and
set in their ways and fiercely independent, and ill with either
alzheimers or some other mind affecting illness, it is hell on the
family to try and act in their best interest if they don't go along
willingly.

Best Regards,
Evelyn