Preparing to Move Mother to Texas

As you probably know, my brother Philip is a nurse anesthetist in Texas. He has been here several times this year and is planning to take Mother to Texas for the winter (or longer). He had planned to have her in his home but when he saw how much care Mother needs, how much equipment is required (a patient lift is the only way to get her comfortably out of and into bed), and realized that he and Maribeth both work, I was very relieved to hear that they have decided to put her in a rehab center near them until she can build up more strength. Hopefully, she'll be able to sit up, get out of bed, and walk with a walker one of these days.

Phil and Maribeth are coming in this Friday night and will get Levi from his dorm at J.M.U. on Saturday morning. They will stay here till Tuesday, when they'll go to Pittsburgh to have Thanksgiving with Maribeth's family. Ed and I are going to eat turkey and the trimmings at the rehab center with Mother, then go to Beth and Robert Foerster's house for dessert.

They'll return on Saturday to bring Levi back and proceed to Baltimore to catch their flight on Sunday afternoon. Maribeth and I will get almost all the packing done for Mother and we'll all work to winterize the farm house.

The following Friday, December 5th, Phil is flying into our local airport arriving at 10:30 p.m. Some dear friends in town will pick him up and have him overnight. He'll have to be at the rehab center early to get all set. It seemed silly to have him come all the way out here for just a few hours. Thank you, Aldeen and Eugene!

The flight is set for Saturday, December 6th at noon. We're arranging a transport service so Mother can ride in a wheelchair to Baltimore airport. There is no charge for Phil to ride with her. It costs $340, which is not all that bad. We would have preferred a vehicle with a gurney but that same trip would be $1,750.00! Phil has booked first class seats so there will be more room and comfort for Mother. Then Maribeth will be waiting when they land in Dallas. I already feel so relieved and blessed they they are doing this. They know I need a break.