Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Going Home Tomorrow

That last post was actually written on Nov. 13, not the 10th - I couldn't figure out how to change the date! Today is November 17 and Dad will go home tomorrow. He is off the epidural and taking oral pain meds. He has been on TPN (intravenous liquids) supplemented by what he felt he could eat, which was little. We hope his appetite improves now that he is finished with TPN and he can eat good ole HOME made food! Though he is pretty weak, he is still trotting around the floor more quickly than any other 84 year- old post surgical cancer patient could ever move!


We met our hospice nurse, Nancy, today and she seems to be an angel. She only lives a few blocks from Dad and Mom and has already helped us feel more at ease with this next part of our journey. She will manage his care including ordering all medical supplies and medications. Along with doctor and nurse visits, aids will be in three times a week and Nancy said she is always just a phone call away.


Dad had Tim worked out a trust last week and with the help of Legal Zoom, it arrived a few days ago. I brought it up to the hospital for Mom and Dad to sign, using the hospital notary. They were set to sign when it was realized Dad's ID was at home, so Mark Jr. and Sara went back to the house to retrieve it. When they were back, the notary was paged but never came, and never came. Then hospice called and said they were at the house with the equipment delivery. So Mark and Sara left to move some things out of the office and receive the bed, walker, etc. Meanwhile back at the hospital, the notary arrived and we discovered that the nurses on the floor could not act as witnesses, so I went down to the lobby and rounded up a couple of little old pink lady volunteers. They came up and we were told they were associated with the hospital, so they couldn't witness. So the pink ladies went with me to the surgical waiting room and asked if anyone would be willing to act as witnesses. A lady stood up immediately, her sister-in-law also volunteered and up we went to dad's room. They were both from Helper, Utah and one had previously worked for an estate planner. She took over the 'session', explaining the documents as Dad, Mom, the notary and she and the other witness signed. We were grateful she was here and felt it a blessing that we were able to find her.


After the signing 'party' we were instructed on how to take care of the colostomy and the wound specialist changed dad's bandage as Mark Jr. and Sara arrived to say goodbye to Gramps and take Grana home. On the way back to Springville, Mom took them out to a well-deserved dinner!



One hopes never to be in this situation, but now that we are here, we are so very grateful for the help that we have had and the help that is available and we see blessings in so many little things. Dad's nurses here in intermediate care have been so very caring and kind, the physical therapists have been robust young men who tenderly guided dad through his walks with positive feedback and genuine kindness. Vicki Doxey (mom's niece) works here at UVRMC and has been able to help us in so many ways - from poaching an egg for dad in her office using his little electric egg poacher to recommending our hospice nurse and rounding up the notary. We feel the Lord's tender mercy through the kind service of others.

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