Angels really are everywhere.  As are shark infested waters. You just have to be aware of both.  As I was trying to get the best possible care for “L” in the hospital this week I was ‘attacked’ and rewarded at the most unsuspecting times.

After three days of hemming and hawing about how to address his pressure sores, the surgeon did a procedure bed side and decided that he needed to go in surgically the next day. When I came to get a progress report, the caseworker informed me that “L” would have surgery at 1:00 P.M.(give or take a few hours) and then would be immediately sent home.

“No,” I said calmly, the first time.

The caseworker just looked at me with a questioning glance.

“No,” I said calmly the second time. “He’s not having surgery and then put in an ambulance on a gurney with a huge wound on his backside and then sent home where he lives alone and I have to put caregivers in place. Especially since you have no idea when  that is.”

“Well, I understand,” said the caseworker, “but the doctor said he can go home.”

“Well,” I said, “if you understand, then you can tell the doctor the he doesn’t understand, and that this patient, who is non-ambulatory and needs care cannot go home ten minutes after surgery.”

We went round and round a few more times, and it wasn’t a square dance.  Finally she left and returned with the ‘good news’ that he could stay over night after the surgery. What she didn’t know,( or maybe she did as I just was saying: “No, no, no, no, no, no….oh yeah, and no.”) was that I would probably have stood in the doorway with both arms held onto either side refusing to let them take him out.

Everything goes well, and we get him home. I entice my sister and her husband to come for a lasagna dinner. It is a sham. I want them, a nurse and a mechanic to figure out a way to invent a seat cushion that will take the pressure off  “L’s” bum. They are kind and helpful and come to L’s apartment the next night. My sister expertly moves and manipulates ‘L’ in his bed so he stays off the sores. It’s poetry in motion how she tells us what to do and how to do it. Meanwhile her husband is taking measurements and cogitating on an invention for the wheelchair seat.

Then his caregivers show up. They take the reins and say, “don’t worry, we will make sure he is turned, fed, his blood sugar is checked and he stays clean.” I am so blessed.

I come in the next day, there is “L” completely naked, having a nice lunch, and saying: “I decided it’s easier for everyone if I just stay naked.” And while on some level that’s true, I really hope the cleaning lady skips this week.

Angels and Sharks, Angels and Sharks.

“You just have to Laugh……”

Cathy Sikorski