Monday, November 23, 2020

Monday, November 23, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken on November 21, 2008. It was around 8 days after Mattie's second limb salvaging surgery. Based on the activity in this photo, I know it had to be a Friday! On Friday, the University's chemistry club came to the pediatric units to do fun experiments with the kids. This was something Mattie LOVED. So much so, that if Mattie couldn't go to the playroom, the club came to Mattie! 

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.

• number of people diagnosed with the virus: 12,395,660
• number of people who died from the virus: 257,549

Just when you think it will be a more manageable day! Forget it. I can't quite explain why each day is filled with stress and chaos, but it is. As usual, I was up at 5:30am. I need to get up this early in order to get showered, dressed, and start breakfast and chores before my dad's caregiver arrives at 8am. At 7am, I was in my parent's garage looking for a leaf for their dining room table. Who knew a table leaf could weigh a ton. 

Overall, it was like a three ring circus in their house today. From 8am to 1pm, I managed the caregiver, the manicurist who cares for my parents nails, the plumber fixing a leak, phone calls with doctor offices (GI, cardiology, dentist), followed by a dialogue with the wound care company. On Thursday of last week I fired my dad's wound care specialist, as he was very unprofessional and I think also incompetent. They have now assigned a new specialist to care for my dad starting tomorrow. Given the last specialist, I gave it to this company, as I think there is a real lack of training and oversight and I told them I wanted the A team now. In addition, I said this company is getting one more chance, and then I am moving onto another wound care company if tomorrow's specialist is equally awful. It speaks volumes to me that they hire such questionable professionals. 

After that I dealt with paperwork, orders my mom wanted to complete, a stolen credit card, and took my parent's to lunch. At lunch my dad had to go to the bathroom, so I accompanied him and went right inside the bathroom with him as he truly needs a lot of assistance. Are you getting the picture for my day?! I am worn out and I am much younger than my mom. It is very understandable why she is burning out. 

Also my parent's garbage container is broken and I have been trying to get through LA County Department of Water and Power! Good luck. The most user unfriendly phone number and forget the website. I created a login and password and then couldn't get into the system with these credentials. I just want a NEW bin, and I am expending a great deal of energy with this request. If this was the only thing I was balancing, it wouldn't be so bad. But my patience is dwindling. 

Then LA County announced that it is CLOSING outdoor dining starting 10pm on Wednesday. That may not sound bad, but for my dad this is like a life sentence. In fact, I blame lockdowns for my dad's significant decline in physical and cognitive health. Things are hard enough, but now I have to worry about the break in ROUTINE and my dad potentially refusing food at home. I have reached the end of my rope with the virus and how our officials are managing it. Of course their mandates apply to us but NOT to them. I am fed up and frankly if Los Angeles keeps it up, the crisis will be much more significant than the virus itself.