Well, Today Sucked

We had to take Mom to the ER today with extreme abdominal pain. It was a long night, a very dramatic morning, and a long day.

I slept over last night to help Mom with whatever she needed; things started off OK, but steadily declined throughout the night.

Mom had increased abdominal pain, and intensified reactions and symptoms to the chemo. I slept on the couch and tried my best to keep her comfortable; I feel like the third-stringer, not nearly as skilled as either of my sisters, both nurses, but I did my best.

By morning, I was texting them both as the situation worsened. At 8am, I gave mom her next round of meds, but, by 9am, it was clear we needed to take some more drastic action.

Mom felt strongly that ”something is wrong” and when I asked if she wanted to go to the ER, she said ”Maybe”, which is a lot for her. So I threw some pants on over my pajama shorts and with Dad’s help we got her into the car.

I jumped in the driver seat and told Dad I would text him. I was definitely hyper-focused on getting Mom to the ER as quickly and safely as possible, and before I knew it, I was pulling away, having left my Dad standing in the street.

Such a great son, I know.

Mom was in a lot of pain the ride over, and we pulled into the ER lot and I walked her into the check-in. I looked down and saw she already had her driver’s license, her insurance card, and her vaccination card out an in her hand. There are rules, there are protocols, and mom likes to follow them. No matter what.

Soon she was checked in and a wonderful triage nurse who remembered Mom from when she worked at the hospital helped get us settled into a room.

My older sister Angella sent me a list of meds and other notes that she knew the staff would need, and I was so grateful for that; even though the triage nurse felt that I must be ”in the business” because of how I was explaining things, I really barely can keep up with what is going on.

Little things like that, like having that list ready and knowing to send it to me, make such a difference.

It was at this time I took a breath, and texted fam that I had a phone about to die, no charger, had not eaten in about 18 hours, had not slept more than 2 hours, had no coffee yet, had not even brushed my hair or my teeth… but Mom was starting to calm down.

IV drugs are great. Soon Mom was sleeping, and calming. I think she got more sleep there than she’s had for the last few days.

My older sister Angella raced down from her home and picked up my Dad on the way in; it takes a village, right?

Angella spent the rest of the afternoon with Mom; I went home and got cleaned up and some food and some coffee and tried to pick up the house.

Usually this day is a big Easter Egg Dyeing party at Mom’s house; the younger kids were still looking forward to that so we go something going for them while we waiting for Mom to be released.

Angella sent this update:

Today was hopefully the last of the bad days this cycle of chemo. Mom was rushed to emergency with severe abdominal pain. Repeat ct scan showed good blood flow and no further occlusions. Ivf and a few doses of morphine has helped but her mouth is so sore, hot and cold are intolerable, and non stop abdominal pain (always there). Narcotics help but knock her out. We are hoping to find a balance soon for her. Keep her in your prayers

Mom is home.

Today was a bad day… and it came sooner than we thought. I was unprepared to be doing an emergency room run, and while we did get Mom there, I won’t say it was my best work.

It was the first really bad day. I know it won’t be the last one, I just didn’t know it would be today. This is not the kind of thing you really want to ”be better” at, but better at it I will be.

Mom is feeling a little unenthusiastic about this whole thing, which I know is also normal, but still, it’s Mom.

Still hoping for some better days to start coming our way tomorrow.