(no subject)

[missizzy]

My mom had a stroke on Tuesday. Collapsed to the floor of her study, unable to get up. It was actually very lucky it happened on my telework day. I'm not sure what would've happened to her had she been alone in the house for hours afterwards. As it was, we got her to the hospital within the hour. She's been recovering relatively well, but is still looking at spending the next two weeks in a facility in Falls Church rehabbing her leg.
My sister has largely taken charge these past few days, though unfortunately she's scheduled for a work trip to LA tomorrow she hasn't been able to get out of. Her husband helped me buy groceries this morning, and her other friends are ready to help us out as well.
Four days after it happened, I'm finding most of my anxieties about this immediate incident are now passed. Mom has survived it, and now that I've already paid the first of the household bills I'm going to have to deal with, I feel able to deal with all the matters likely to come up while I'm managing the house on my own. But even if she recovers fully this time, this feels like a harbinger of her going further into old age. I don't think things are ever truly going to be the same again.

Comments

[senmut]

HUGS. That is terrifying.

[missizzy]

It was scary.

[marginaliana]

That must have been so scary! I'm glad your anxieties have calmed, though. *hugs*

[missizzy]

Thanks.

[strange_complex]

I'm really sorry to hear that. What a scary experience for both of you! I hope she's able to make a full recovery and prevent further recurrences.

[missizzy]

Thanks. Fingers crossed so far.

[sparowe]

I'm sorry that you had to go through that, but glad you were there to help her.

I do have one question; you don't need to answer me at all, just something for you to think about--this coming as someone who acted as a caregiver. Do you have medical Power of Attorney for your mom? Full can also be useful, but is Medical is important so that you can advocate for her in the hospital, with doctors, etc. I had it for Mum and it was crucial; with Dad, unfortunately, I did not and by the time we realised that I would need it, he was not considered competent enough to give it. That required contesting for Guardianship--a process which has gone on for almost a year at this point, and has cost thousands of dollars. My advice is that if you don't have medical POA, you and your sister might want to talk it over with your mom, and decide how you want to proceed going forward. (And if this is wildly out line, I do apologise. Just one of those things I wish I'd known beforehand.)

[missizzy]

They've been letting my sister and me speak for her a lot this week, and even said we could make the decisions if she was declared incompetent. Honestly, I'm not sure my mother would be willing to do anything more official; that's a complicated thing for reasons I'd rather not get into.