Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: PATIENT (11/25/21)
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TITLE: "Once a man twice a child" | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene MCPherson
12/02/21 -
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This witty woman resigned herself to us just like a child! Her dignity, optimism and composure motivated us to serve her as best as possible but the tasks were more than we expected.
One morning she highlighted from her bed to open a window when one of her legs failed her and she fell to the floor. Unable to move she yelled to her daughter, Marcia who shared residence with her. Marcia ran to her rescue where she was found, faced down on the cold tile.
Hastily she sought help from the neighbors who after deliberations decided to sling her to the bed. Nonetheless she cried out for excruciating pain. A General Practitioner was summoned to the home; on examination x-rays were ordered resulting in the engagement of an orthopedic surgeon.
Mama’s incapacitated state necessitated an ambulance service to transport her to the doctor’s facility. After the x-rays were done the doctor showed me the results on the monitor. Her hip was broken in three places and the bones in her left wrist were severed. He liken her bones to thin glass and suggested skin traction, which he put in place instead of a surgery. I agreed, but this decision turned out to be a nightmare experience. He then splinted her wrist and gave a six week appointment.
Medications were prescribed plus two stern warnings: firstly, she should always rise up to eat, to avoid pneumonia and secondly, she should be turned every three hours to prevent bed sores. I accepted the responsibilities because of my love for her and the doctor’s requests were doable. Little did I know this was a round the clock nursing- care job.
We shared the news with our churches and workplace families. The help and support received were tremendous blessings. We were assisted with items to aid in her recovery, a hospital bed, a wheel chair and a walker all were loan from different persons. We were also recommended to nurses who were proficient professionals.
We surrounded her with musical hymns of praise and the reading of the Word of God to strengthen her faith and encouraged her dependency on the Lord. She was pleased with this atmosphere and showered us with compliments.
The care for mama was grueling so we set up a schedule of doing this. To change her diaper was like a new learning experience because at times it was incorrectly placed on. Sometimes I used two diapers because one was torn in the process of turning her. She laughed and said “Thank you.”
About the third week she complained about a discomfort in her leg that bore the bandage for the set-up of the weight. I told her that it was the healing process. The nurse’s keen eyes discovered that puss was coming from the area and it was discolored. So we reached out to the doctor but he was negative and unprofessional.
We went to another medical facility where surgery was immediately recommended and the lower leg dressed. According to the doctor she could have lost her lower leg due to poor circulation. They sedated her, performed the operation and within a week she was at home.
The day and night care was no different. To turn her every three hours was not an easy feat especially during the night without help. So she would be in the wet diaper longer than usual. Mama made very little demands because she knew Marcia had a full-time day job the next day. Eventually she had bed sores and did we not pay for the consequences? Yes, we did.
Realizing that the task was a mammoth one we employed a full time nurse and paid one of our male neighbors to assist us in turning her. To ensure her speedy recovery from the bed sores we employed another nurse for the night session. We also hired a physical therapist who came twice weekly.
After four months her skin is like a baby’s. Mama has regained the use of her left hand. She sits at her volition; draw up herself on the bed and with assistance stand on both feet. On December25, she celebrates her 93rd birthday and I know it will be day of thanksgiving.
Nonfiction
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Thank you for sharing.