Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2007. Mattie was five years old. That day, Mattie attended his preschool friend's birthday party! It was a gymnastics party! Mattie was one of about three boys! But Mattie LOVED it, he got into it and was following along! As you can see Mattie loved the color orange, which is why this is the official color of Mattie Miracle.
Quote of the day: Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. ~ May Sarton
It was a very challenging morning. Actually challenging doesn't do my morning justice. My dad's physical therapist warned me that mornings are HARD! Which was probably why she insisted that my dad have a dosage of oxycodone before getting out of bed. NOW I GET IT! This morning, after feeding Indie, I came back upstairs with the goal of helping my dad to the bathroom and then back to bed until I was ready to start his morning routine. Trying to get my dad out of bed was like hell on earth! He was screaming in pain. Mind you my dad is a big man, I can't move him, and he can't move himself! My dad has never been able to roll on his side, which is typically how we all get out of bed. But in addition to this he can't lift his head off the pillow, and he can't move his legs. This is because he fell on his back on July 11. It felt like I was trying to lift dead weight, but the dead weight was screaming. I finally got him out of bed and to the bathroom. While my mom was watching him, I ran downstairs to get his back pain patch, his oxycodone and Tylenol. Ironically my dad's nurse was a God sent yesterday! She basically said... fill all the scripts! You may not need them or want to use them, but if you DO need them, you will have them! THANK YOU LARA!
I got my dad medicated and back to bed with the hope that 90 minutes later, I would be able to move and shower him. But getting my dad back into bed was equally horrific. It was so difficult that I had to literally stand on the bed in order to have leverage to push his back forward in order to shove pillows behind him. It was a nightmare and I literally said to myself..... if this is as good as it gets, I will not be able to care for my dad.
After I got myself together, cleaned up the first floor, and made breakfast (because my mom was waiting for it), I went back upstairs to attempt to move my dad and get him in the shower. With the pain meds on board, it was challenging, but far more manageable. At the hospital my dad's occupational therapist, who I disliked, taught me how to do a shower transfer! Keep in mind she never asked to see our home set up! I kept telling her that our shower door is too narrow for my dad to walk in side ways with the walker. She wouldn't listen! But I was correct, it doesn't work! So I had to come up with plan B.
Despite being the hospital and given several showers, my dad needed to be thoroughly cleaned! Once showered, and dressed, I had to get my dad downstairs. I was concerned that down the stairs was going to be as bad as up. But down was super easy! In fact, I saw no difference from now compared to before hospitalization. It is up that is difficult, because at the end of the day my dad is tired.
I was hoping I could send my dad back to his memory care center tomorrow, as the doctor cleared him to return. But my dad has slept the entire day away. He was only awake for meals and two, three minute walks. He has no energy and I do not feel comfortable sending me out of our home, until I know he is more stable. I truly hope it gets better with each day, because right now managing his pain is very difficult.
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