ICU,
do you see me?
IV,
let it be.
TPN, PO,
NPO
gotta go.
ND, MD, LPN
RN, UN, say it again.
rx, px,
mri
CT ( cat) scan
scat man
let her try.
dnr, dni
what does it take
if you want to die?
cpr, ventilate
need to be able to masticate.
swallow this, life is hard.
can't say it much better than the Bard.
teeter totter, life on the line
look at me, kiss me
one more time.
MRSA, strep,H1NI is all the rage
as your lungs continue to rattle their cage.
tenacious, persistent, hand breaking grip.
okay, momma.
let it rip.
take a breath, we all need to do it
life is what you make it
so come on, get to it.
rally round the flag, El
family is your glue.
the bottom line is
we love you.
so...
HS, am, pm, now
prn, qd, not time to take a bow.
( dictionary: PO: by mouth; NPO: not by mouth;DNR: do not resuscitate; DNI: do not intubate; HS: at night; TPN: total parental nutrition; qd: every day; prn: as needed)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
stable, for the moment
One of the important pieces of information medical personnel gather, whether assessing a medical or trauma patient is baseline vital signs.
It is imperative to assess each situation and understand the needs of the patient.
Is there a life threatening condition?
Are they stable?
Their vital signs are stable.
We all look for stability, amidst the everchanging and illusive nature of life.
Some call it Maya, which is defined as illusion.
Illusion is everywhere , and yet we all look for stability.Some more than others.
Yet,all we ever have is the moment. And, for now, my mother is stable.
Not in crisis.
So, does this mean it is the calm before the storm, as has been the pattern of so many months now?
Can any of us comfortably reside in the stability of the moment knowing that the very definition of life is change and growth?
For now, in the now.
Now is all we have.
...reminds me of an ol' Beatles tune.
You remember the Beatles, don't you?
It is imperative to assess each situation and understand the needs of the patient.
Is there a life threatening condition?
Are they stable?
Their vital signs are stable.
We all look for stability, amidst the everchanging and illusive nature of life.
Some call it Maya, which is defined as illusion.
Illusion is everywhere , and yet we all look for stability.Some more than others.
Yet,all we ever have is the moment. And, for now, my mother is stable.
Not in crisis.
So, does this mean it is the calm before the storm, as has been the pattern of so many months now?
Can any of us comfortably reside in the stability of the moment knowing that the very definition of life is change and growth?
For now, in the now.
Now is all we have.
...reminds me of an ol' Beatles tune.
You remember the Beatles, don't you?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Top part of my sandwich fell last week.
Hip broken, mind altered.
Mind trying to do whatever it can to endure, survive, exist.
The time has come to STOP interventions.
The time is here and now.
Now is all we ever have; and the now of wholistic care has emerged on THE FRONT BURNER and the heat is way up!!
What the above mean and refers to is: as the process of aging lends itself to compensatory mechanisms, the body continues to assert itself for survival.
This is known as the "geriatric complex".
There is a point, however, when the body cannot keep juggling.
My mother has an incurable lymphoma, mitral valve regurgitation, hypertension, and more.
My mother is 87.
She is fragile in body and oh so determined in spirit! .
My mother is not ready to let go.it is not her time, but the time she has needs to be free of interventions and heroics and needs to be surrounded and full of peace and life and love.
She has always exuded unconditional love.
This does NOT mean she has been perfect or is today.
But,what it does mean:she deserves comfort and dignity, joy and relief from the yo-yo hospital visits and all the cascades of what that becomes.
A line has been drawn in the sand today.
i had to take out the pen.
i had to initiate the line.
This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.
i do it out of love.
All the harder.
May those of you who have tread this path, are treading or will: take heart.
Count your blessings, count your friends, count and remember your breaths.
Hip broken, mind altered.
Mind trying to do whatever it can to endure, survive, exist.
The time has come to STOP interventions.
The time is here and now.
Now is all we ever have; and the now of wholistic care has emerged on THE FRONT BURNER and the heat is way up!!
What the above mean and refers to is: as the process of aging lends itself to compensatory mechanisms, the body continues to assert itself for survival.
This is known as the "geriatric complex".
There is a point, however, when the body cannot keep juggling.
My mother has an incurable lymphoma, mitral valve regurgitation, hypertension, and more.
My mother is 87.
She is fragile in body and oh so determined in spirit! .
My mother is not ready to let go.it is not her time, but the time she has needs to be free of interventions and heroics and needs to be surrounded and full of peace and life and love.
She has always exuded unconditional love.
This does NOT mean she has been perfect or is today.
But,what it does mean:she deserves comfort and dignity, joy and relief from the yo-yo hospital visits and all the cascades of what that becomes.
A line has been drawn in the sand today.
i had to take out the pen.
i had to initiate the line.
This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.
i do it out of love.
All the harder.
May those of you who have tread this path, are treading or will: take heart.
Count your blessings, count your friends, count and remember your breaths.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
the sound you hear is the elastic of my yo-yo responding to my mother, as she yo-yo's in and out of the hospital.
Do they offer frequent flier miles?!
she's in, she's out.
she's up, she's down.
She had a fall.
She is okay.
She hit her cheek, there is a fracture.
She is confused. Induced dementia due to medication soup.
She fell again, broke her hip.
Do they offer frequent flier miles?!
she's in, she's out.
she's up, she's down.
She had a fall.
She is okay.
She hit her cheek, there is a fracture.
She is confused. Induced dementia due to medication soup.
She fell again, broke her hip.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
it's another day in lake mothercare...
raising parents.
when they were raising us, did they admit to wanting their time with us to be"done"?
is this harsh?
time marches on, the brilliance of pregnant green and crimson buds grace the landscape.
reprieve is in the mindfull moment of catching breath
of exforming toxins
of having an unscheduled cuppa tea with a friend.
reprieve: where are you??
raising parents.
when they were raising us, did they admit to wanting their time with us to be"done"?
is this harsh?
time marches on, the brilliance of pregnant green and crimson buds grace the landscape.
reprieve is in the mindfull moment of catching breath
of exforming toxins
of having an unscheduled cuppa tea with a friend.
reprieve: where are you??
Friday, April 24, 2009
Welcome to spring!
It has been nearly a year since my recruitment as a sandwich lady began.
.....and, it is because I have been immersed in all of its rules and responsibilities, that I haven't written.
too busy doing!
Next installment will talk further about
1. guilt
2. recovering perfectionism
3. reclaiming health and stamina
It has been nearly a year since my recruitment as a sandwich lady began.
.....and, it is because I have been immersed in all of its rules and responsibilities, that I haven't written.
too busy doing!
Next installment will talk further about
1. guilt
2. recovering perfectionism
3. reclaiming health and stamina
Thursday, July 31, 2008
tending sandwich making has been more than a full time job lately.
Being in the kitchen has amde it challenging to post a blog. In it, in the trenches am I.
The elder has required a great deal of care. Her anxiety and fears seem to get the best of her, but there is positive movement and progress .
This is called Better Living through Chemistry.
There are times when we need help; from a hug from another, from pharmaceuticals, from rest.
As a sandwich lady, my days are more than full and not my own. Putting me to my test of walking my talk with regard to my practice and teaching of Yoga.
Staying physically active, focusing on relaxing breaths and finding peace as I need to also transcends to my mother who is unable to create these places for herself. She is trying.
She is trying.
My "lower" part of my sandwich just turned 11 yesterday. As a child with special needs, he pulls me in other directions. some days, the two of them have me so in the middle and it is all I can do not to scream.
and I have.
And I am reminded by my teens to CHILL OUT!
so the yoga breath returns and I am reminded over and over again.
This too shall pass.
it is process not perfection.
Being in the kitchen has amde it challenging to post a blog. In it, in the trenches am I.
The elder has required a great deal of care. Her anxiety and fears seem to get the best of her, but there is positive movement and progress .
This is called Better Living through Chemistry.
There are times when we need help; from a hug from another, from pharmaceuticals, from rest.
As a sandwich lady, my days are more than full and not my own. Putting me to my test of walking my talk with regard to my practice and teaching of Yoga.
Staying physically active, focusing on relaxing breaths and finding peace as I need to also transcends to my mother who is unable to create these places for herself. She is trying.
She is trying.
My "lower" part of my sandwich just turned 11 yesterday. As a child with special needs, he pulls me in other directions. some days, the two of them have me so in the middle and it is all I can do not to scream.
and I have.
And I am reminded by my teens to CHILL OUT!
so the yoga breath returns and I am reminded over and over again.
This too shall pass.
it is process not perfection.
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