2023 has been a bit rough so far
Mar. 5th, 2023 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaBig Sis and her family have been here for the weekend, because it was our uncle's memorial service yesterday - it's been over two months since he died, but because he was cremated for transport home to the UK having died on holiday, there was no rush, so my aunt waited until she felt able to cope with it. A nice service, standing room only, full of family and friends sharing happy memories. I almost managed not to cry, but then they mentioned my cousin who died over twenty years ago, and that set me off. That, and seeing the widow of another cousin, who died two years ago, who made the effort to bring her kids to the other side of the country to pay their respects - none of us were able to get to her husband's funeral, due to covid.
This afternoon Sis and I went to see our Nan in hospital, where she is recovering from a stroke, and Nan just took one look at Sis and burst into tears, she was so happy, because she knows Sis lives too far away to visit easily so wasn't expecting to see her.
Nan was a lot more alert this afternoon than she was last time I saw her. Speech is still a struggle, but it is better than it was. She knew my name. She pulled a few other names out of the bag too, although she couldn't necessarily pin them on the right person. She has got the phrase 'I love you' down pat and says it over and over. We Facetimed a few people so she could talk to them, too, and she was thrilled.
She is not eating, though. Not getting on with hospital food at all. She pulls a face like an eight-year-old just at the thought of it. They gave her a bowl of chicken pasta. She has never eaten pasta in her life. The sauce is made with sweet peppers, which she hates. I coaxed her to eat a few mouthfuls, because her chart said she hadn't eaten in at least two days, but she hated it - and had to be fed, because she was struggling to get the food into her mouth anyway. Trifle for pudding went down better, and we got her to eat two small cakes and drink a glass of milk, she was clearly hungry, just really hates the food. Sis persuaded the kitchen to give us a menu for the week so we could select specific food she might eat, rather than them just giving her whatever is default every time - one of my uncles has done the same thing previously, but you can only do a week at a time. The nurses, who were all lovely, did say that she can ask for something different at any time - but her stroke affected speech and language. She just doesn't have the ability to explain what she does or doesn't like, or to tell anyone if she is hungry, or to describe what she wants.
So she is improving, but still a big worry.
This afternoon Sis and I went to see our Nan in hospital, where she is recovering from a stroke, and Nan just took one look at Sis and burst into tears, she was so happy, because she knows Sis lives too far away to visit easily so wasn't expecting to see her.
Nan was a lot more alert this afternoon than she was last time I saw her. Speech is still a struggle, but it is better than it was. She knew my name. She pulled a few other names out of the bag too, although she couldn't necessarily pin them on the right person. She has got the phrase 'I love you' down pat and says it over and over. We Facetimed a few people so she could talk to them, too, and she was thrilled.
She is not eating, though. Not getting on with hospital food at all. She pulls a face like an eight-year-old just at the thought of it. They gave her a bowl of chicken pasta. She has never eaten pasta in her life. The sauce is made with sweet peppers, which she hates. I coaxed her to eat a few mouthfuls, because her chart said she hadn't eaten in at least two days, but she hated it - and had to be fed, because she was struggling to get the food into her mouth anyway. Trifle for pudding went down better, and we got her to eat two small cakes and drink a glass of milk, she was clearly hungry, just really hates the food. Sis persuaded the kitchen to give us a menu for the week so we could select specific food she might eat, rather than them just giving her whatever is default every time - one of my uncles has done the same thing previously, but you can only do a week at a time. The nurses, who were all lovely, did say that she can ask for something different at any time - but her stroke affected speech and language. She just doesn't have the ability to explain what she does or doesn't like, or to tell anyone if she is hungry, or to describe what she wants.
So she is improving, but still a big worry.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-05 09:22 pm (UTC)