Several months ago, mom fell and hurt her back. She fell on her head, and though she was able to recover from that injury quickly, her back took much longer. An x-ray showed that she'd had a compression fracture to her spine. She became hunched over and was in quite a bit of pain.
The doctor prescribed physical therapy. We began her treatments at Kaiser and the physical therapist gave her exercises to do. We videotaped the exercises so we could make sure she did them properly at home.
She did those exercises religiously. Mom is very careful of her health and if Lily told her to do a certain exercise twice a week, she did it every day. In fact, she overdid it and though her back improved, her leg started to hurt.
We took her for her final session and Lily praised mom's progress. She was astounded at how often mom was doing her exercises and told her to ease up on them.
She said mom's posture had improved dramatically and her balance was amazing for an 88 year old. She had to tell mom to slow down when she was doing her walking routine.
Through all this, Art and I kept looking at each other grinning ear to ear.
We laughed then, realizing that we were feeling like proud parents enjoying the good report that our child was receiving.
If mom only knew.
The doctor prescribed physical therapy. We began her treatments at Kaiser and the physical therapist gave her exercises to do. We videotaped the exercises so we could make sure she did them properly at home.
We took her for her final session and Lily praised mom's progress. She was astounded at how often mom was doing her exercises and told her to ease up on them.
She said mom's posture had improved dramatically and her balance was amazing for an 88 year old. She had to tell mom to slow down when she was doing her walking routine.
Through all this, Art and I kept looking at each other grinning ear to ear.
We laughed then, realizing that we were feeling like proud parents enjoying the good report that our child was receiving.
If mom only knew.
She seems to be a very mentally strong woman.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing story, well done everyone, a true team effort and very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI remember my parents reading a book entitle How To Parent Your Parents or something like that. Guess I need to be getting that book for my children now.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story. Your mother is so well cared for, she must have always been a very special lady.
ReplyDeleteGod bless her!
ReplyDeleteawww, that is so touching, your Mum is so very very lucky to have you both,, I'm so glad she has made such an amazing recovery and what an inspiration that women is!!
ReplyDeleteYour mom probably does know. :)
ReplyDeleteNow, how about her leg.
So glad to hear how well your Mom is doing....You should be proud of her, and I'm sure you are!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear she's doing better
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious post. You are so cute in how you take care of your parent. Of course, she seems to be a neato mom as well.
ReplyDeleteit is an interesting place when you end up parenting your parents...lol!
ReplyDeleteShe is an amazing person! I would be a proud parent, er, child too! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think mom knows the difference between balance and having none, and will do all to keep it. Go, Mom.
ReplyDeleteThe root of this story is your Mom's FALL. Falling is one of the worst scourges for Senior Citizens. You hear about it every day, if you are aware of the danger. Do your best not to fall, Seniors. Hollow advice, in one sense, as accidents are accidents and catch us unaware. That's what an accident is, after all. On the other hand, try not to fall, Seniors.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the problem, isn't it? A fall is usually an accident that catches you unaware. I have fallen several times just from not paying close attention to what I was doing.
DeleteDoting kids . . . so sweet.
ReplyDeleteYour Mom really sets the bar high about taking good care of herself --with superior help from you and Art. Be proud--you have all earned it.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is such a cutie. Glad that she is better now. I started taking classes 2x week - TheFascianator.com. We roll on very rigid pvc pipe to help our posture, structures, everything. We roll our fascia, never on joints, bones, spine, ribs. Has done wonders for many, and most of the people in class are senior citizens.
ReplyDeleteGood for her! I know she wants to be mobile and active and useful for as long as she can be. I think most of us want that. She takes care of you and you take care of her. You all can be proud.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's a good news story! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteThe things you wouldn't tell your Mom!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! She should get the Compliant Patient Award! They are rare. Glad she was given advice to decrease the frequencies from what was initially advised.
ReplyDeleteYes, preventing falls is a big thing as we get older and less agile. I've had many a patient who "fell onto the corner of the coffee table," and had a horrid face and eye bruise for weeks.
Just like young children who won't listen to their parents' suggestions, but WILL listen to a teacher or other adult suggest the same thing, elderly folks don't like to listen to their grown children's suggestions, but will do what they should if told to them by just about anyone else: their doc, nurse, or therapist. Some of my patients have been the parents of colleague nurses. This behavior is SO common, I've even had a colleague, "tell my Dad to use the walker; he won't if I tell him." Once I do, as their assigned nurse, they'll follow instructions, as if it were the first time they'd heard it....exasperating. Being able to maintain control, independence, and pride, in spite of the help from grown children, is paramount to the elderly.
You and Art deserve to grin and be proud of your Mom. She's probably in top 5% of folks who do what is advised. All other families suffer the consequences of not following the plan of care. You two get the "Patiently Persistent Grown Kids Award!" Cheers, Linda in Kansas
Lily did tell us that mom is a rare senior who can walk unassisted and have good balance. We often take it for granted, but know it can change with one fall.
DeleteWell done to your mother and to you and Art. It is an odd feeling when you realise there has been a reversal of roles. I
ReplyDeleteHi Kay, Aunty is amazing! Truly an inspiration to everyone. Holly
ReplyDeleteShe is very determined to stay in good health so she is not a burden on anyone.
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