Dog Days of Summer

The weather in Texas has been in the high 90’s and some days as high as 104 degrees. Thank goodness for air-conditioned homes, cars and a swimming pool.

Fran stays inside most of the time at the nursing home. Occasionally we can get her out in the garden area on the gazebo in the mornings before it gets up in the 90’s. She prefers to stay in bed and be lazy but we encourage her to get up in her chair a couple times a day.

Her therapy has been discontinued except for chair exercises a few times a week. Her potassium levels are back to normal with no more severe leg cramps. Her appetite is so-so but she is showing some interest in her sugar free chocolates again.

She has lost some of her get-up and go and just stares a good bit. We can get her to smile now and then. She really enjoys and seems to relax when she is read to. Philip reads the Bible to her and I read from the book, “Simple Abundance”.

Continue to keep Fran in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy Birthday, Frances May

Yesterday my one and only “favorite” mother-in-law celebrated her 84th Birthday. She received greetings from family in Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, friends from Virginia and friends from here in Texas. She had requested Pizza Hut Pizza earlier in the week and even washed it down with a few sips of white wine followed by a big glass of ice tea.

Since Fran was brought back to Pleasant Manor from Baylor Medical Center last Thursday, there have been a few ups and downs. The doctors are attempting to change her meds around a bit and with that comes times of confusion for her. Philip and I are spending longer visits with her during these times to help her through them.

On Tuesday she woke up and was stating she was very tired and hurt all over. Blood work was ordered that morning, and we were told late afternoon yesterday that her potassium level was extremely low and was contributing to her leg cramps and weakness and some of her confusion. The doctor has doubled her potassium tablets and bananas will accompany each meal and snack time.

Fran has her good days and her down days. Her sense of humor still shines from time to time but there are times of frustration and depression. She wishes she could walk and live back at the farm yet she understands that is something that is not doable. She receives therapy 3 days a week that consists of leg lifts and arm lifts and a few other exercises. Fran is not walking in her “Merry Walker” because of her recent hospital stay and onset of weakness. It’s hard to say at this point if and when she will return to walking therapy.

We thank you for all your cards, calls and prayers.
~~Maribeth May

Southern Lady, Still Witty

Phil and Maribeth have observed that Mother is a favorite around Pleasant Manor. Her Southern lady aura and her quick, dry sense of humor has charmed everyone in the place. Phil said that last evening, (even though she was feeling a bit poorly) when they took her a birthday pizza, she was still saying some funny things.

A Few Days in the Hospital

Philip and I visited Fran this morning and found her to be weak and sleepy. The doctor on call for her regular physician (who happens to be on vacation) wants to watch her for a few days or so here at our local hospital where Philip works.

Her downslide began about 2 weeks ago when we noticed Fran was weepy and a bit confused. We have seen the signs before of what a UTI can do to the elderly. A test was given and showed positive for a UTI. Antibiotics were started and Fran started to feel better for a few days. Again the same symptoms and yet another antibiotic started.

Three mornings in a row Fran was described by her nurse as “unresponsive” and extremely difficult to wake. Yesterday was the third morning and Philip felt she needed to be transferred to the hospital for further testing. Could it be seizures??? Maybe but Phil says not likely. Most likely this is a result of a progressive UTI that has invaded the blood and caused mental changes and total body fatigue. It could also be due to Mom’s response to her medications, which are periodically adjusted for a variety of reasons.

We are glad she is in the hospital for a more intensive evaluation and IV antibiotic therapy.

We will keep you all posted everyday or so of Fran’s progress. Continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Maribeth

Non-Responsive Morning, Better Afternoon

Phil and Maribeth got a call from Mom's nursing home this morning around 5 a.m. that Mother was having another one of her episodes and was non-responsive. They went over and she was slightly better but Phil decided a trip to the hospital would be a good idea. He called me several times today and all her tests were coming out OK. She "woke up" this afternoon and was able to talk, etc.

I just called her and she was totally "with it" and spoke clearly. Phil thinks they might adjust her meds and she might go back to her nursing home tomorrow. He has said before that he and her doctor think these episodes might be a type of seizure but none of the tests in the past have shown this specifically so there has been no official diagnosis.

The good news is that she has no pain and is mentally alert. It's amazing how the human body can bounce back after a downturn, isn't it?

Posted by MaryMay Angelil, the eldest child who now lives in Virginia

Frances May Misses Virginia

From Maribeth May,
still Fran's favorite (and only) daughter-in-law:

It’s been a while since I have given a Fran update. She is holding her own with no big changes from our last update.

Philip and I try to get Fran out at least once week for either “dining out “or a Sunday afternoon at our home for a cookout. She enjoys the time away from the center. Philip makes juicy hamburgers with all the fixings. Sometimes I make my famous chicken tenders that she really likes with some rice and beans. Fran has mentioned how in Texas they eat a lot of cake and in Virginia they eat pies. I took that as a hint and have since always had a homemade pie fresh and warm when she comes over.

Fran enjoys her visits with Levi. Levi is working this summer while at home and taking a JMU class on line. He keeps busy but finds time to see his grandmother. His visits are usually short (about 30 minutes) but she doesn’t seem to mind because he always brings her a chocolate bar. (She still has a sweet tooth)

I wish I could say that Fran is more confident about getting up and down and walking with her Merry Walker but I can’t. She is still terrified of falling and that limits her with her therapy. We are still waiting a call from the Baylor Institute to see if she qualifies for rehab with hydrotherapy. Some days she wants to go give it a try and other days she says she is too old to bother.

The staff at Pleasant Manor has really taken a liking to Fan. They love her southern accent and her sense of humor. The other day one of the CNAs asked her if she needed anything and she told him that the next time he is at the store to buy her a new set of legs.

Please continue to write Fran. She REALLY misses her Virginia family and friends. When she gets mail, she likes the letters read to her over and over. Her memory is very clear these days and she speaks fondly of all of you.

You can use either address:
C/o Philip May, 114 Vintage Dr., Waxahachie, TX 75165

C/o Pleasant Manor Health and Rehab, 3650 South I-35, Waxahachie, TX 75165

"Merry Walking"

I (Philip) spent some time this past week with Momma May. Progress continues. Two days ago she walked about 70 feet in her “merry-walker” contraption. Yesterday she walked 120 feet and today she walked about 150 feet without direct assistance. That was all the way down the hall of the rehab facility and a full circle around the nurses' station.

She does still need a little boost to get to the standing position. I just grab the back of her pants and pull up on the count of three and up she stands. We laugh about me giving her a “wedgie” with the boost.

Mom still needs the “pep talk” to help her recognize her continuing accomplishments. She thinks she is stuck with her progress. Today I wagged my finger in her face and said, “Mom, don’t even think about saying that you are making no progress. Two days ago it was 70 feet, yesterday it was 120 feet, and today it was 150 feet. You’re kickin’ b#&%!”

My description to her finally sank in. She laughed a little laugh and a broke out in a big smile…. kind of like the smile on the cat who just ate the canary”. We both laughed. She was actually pretty pleased with herself.

She called Becky May and told her about how much she had walked. There was a certain excitement in her voice that was music to my ears. She was pleased with the day’s accomplishments and encouraged about her future.

We await mom’s summoning to the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation in downtown Dallas. It is a 16-bed specialized unit and competitive to be admitted to. It might be next week or even a month before she gets to go. In the meantime, we are happy with her continued progress.

Tomorrow we will get Mom about 2 p.m. for a holiday cookout. Juicy cheeseburgers, sweltering hot dogs, bacon baked beans, mustard potato salad and apple sauce are on the menu. We might even have a little “happy hour” before the burgs and dogs go on the grill. I’m not sure what Maribeth has on the dessert menu, but I am sure it will be sweet. That is the part of the meal that Mom is really looking forward to

Before I left her this afternoon, I said, “Mom, just remember, if you lay in that bed like a vegetable, you will become one. You still have some living to do.” She smiled and thought a few seconds and then said, “Yes, I do”. HOPE LIVES ON!!

Hydrotherapy for Fran?

Fran saw a specialist Thursday and it was recommended that she go into Baylor Hospital Inpatient Rehab for hydrotherapy. Her 100 Medicare days will cover it and she may just need to be there 2-3 weeks. The hospital is in Dallas, about 30 minutes from Maribeth and Phil.

The doctor explained that in the water, she'll be able to use muscles and positions that she can't use now because of pain. Therefore, she'll build those muscles up and progress to walking more successfully without pain.

She is thinking about and is leaning towards it. Her first reaction was, "It'll mess up my schedule....I won't know all the nurses, etc." Phil asked that I encourage her to go, which I did.


Her comment to me was, "It's going to mean a lot more work for me....." That struck me.......and makes me wonder if she has Grandmama Freeman (her mother) in mind. Grandmama was pretty much an invalid who was pampered and babied for the last 20-30 years of her 96-year-long life.

I still encouraged her and reminded her that if she is serious about wanting to come home, she'll need to be able to get around better. I also told her that Ed just mailed a box of her swim suits and swim shoes on Saturday. Plus, she's used to exercising in the water from her years of going to the Wellness Center here in Virginia.

I haven't heard any more but when Phil sees a medical situation that can be improved, he pretty much digs in and works at it until he can make it happen. Kudos to Phil!

About Calling and Writing

Since the encouraging report of progress, I've talked to Mother a few times. If you do decide to call her, (972-825-7871), we've already mentioned speaking clearly and loudly. Ed and I have found that we have to listen carefully, too.

We get the impression that her thinking is clearer but wonder if the small strokes several weeks ago might have affected her speech a bit. Phil and Maribeth see her often so perhaps they are used to her speech. Just as parents of a young child can understand, others sometimes don't understand a word the child says!

If you'd like to send her a note or card, her address is:
Frances May
c/o Pleasant Manor Health and Rehab
3650 South I-35
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Momma May Walks

Mom’s rehabilitation struggle has been slow for the most part but, we're happy to report that there has been some recent improvement. Maribeth and I went to a health staff meeting last week concerning Mom’s care. We were very surprised to find out from the physical therapist that Mom was walking better.

The physical therapist had just about given up on Mom and walking, but she has changed her mind and is working patiently with her now toward improvement, and eventually, physical strength and mobility independence. In the parallel bars Mom is walking with very little assistance. She tires easily though and requires encouragement to continue each PT session to its maximum benefit. She walked about 40 feet yesterday. That’s progress!

She is also using the walker some too, but still with great apprehension of falling. There is improvement though. Mom is also now able to move herself in her wheelchair (though she would rather be pushed) around the rehabilitation center. She goes to the cafeteria some on her "bicycle", as she calls her wheelchair.

I was with Mom yesterday when her physician, Dr. Bosquet, visited. She was the most oriented she had ever been with him. The Dr. and I were surprised and pleased. Her thinking is clearly improving. We think she is presently on a good balance of medications to optimize her cognitive abilities.

She has a cell phone now and is little by little learning to use it, sorting out what the buttons do and which ones she should “mash” to get who she wants to talk to. All those buttons make me scratch my head as well. I am working with her to do the plain & simple stuff like turning the phone on and off, answering it when it rings and charging it up when the battery gets weak.

Voice mail is my next task to tackle with Mom. So far she has been good with her phone. She hasn’t called us up in the middle of the night because she thinks there is a spider in her bed or anything. We think that’s just fine.

For friends and family who would like to call her, the number is 972-825-7871. She is still hard of hearing, so you will need to speak loudly and enunciate clearly, please.

In a couple of weeks we plan to take her to a physician specialist in the area of medical and rehabilitative medicine. We have the appointment, but if she continues to improve at her present rate, we may not even need to see this rehabilitation guru doctor. We’ll see how she progresses.

Mom still wants to return to Virginia, but she will have a few hoops to jump through before we can realistically make all that happen. Certainly we will, if and when she gains enough independence to fend for herself back on the farm. Dreams and goals, what challenge would life be if we didn’t have them? They motivate us and give us a reason to get up and go each day. Mom still has them.

She appreciates all the letters, cards, and phone conversations with all her friends and family. She wants everyone to know that.

Philip

Mom’s Hospital Stay

Last Saturday morning Mom was unresponsive. Appropriately, her nurse called 911 and an ambulance took Mom to Baylor Medical Center in Waxahachie, where I work (Phil is a nurse anesthetist there). It was a 10-minute ride. Maribeth and I met the ambulance as it arrived at the emergency room.

Indeed, Mom was unresponsive at that time. Her vital signs were fine but her state of consciousness was not.She had a CT scan of her head and they discovered nothing new: no midline shift, no blood masses, and no tumors.

A short time after her arrival, she began to respond a little. She would open her eyes on command, but could not speak. She could grip with her hands when we requested her to. That was the beginning of her improvement.

They admitted her to a private room on the 3^rd floor. I stayed with her. About two hours later, she spontaneously opened her eyes and said “Phil”. In a short time she began to speak but was a little lethargic with her responses. She slept most of the day while we attended.

After an EEG, Carotid Artery Doppler Study, and an MRI, the higher cerebral heavy-weights (doctors) were not 100% sure of the correct diagnosis. Some, including me, thought this was a TIA (transient ischemic attack) from a little plaque slough off from her carotid artery, which blocked some small vessels temporarily in her brain. Yet others thought her experience was from a special kind of seizure activity. The point now is moot.......Mom improved.

She stayed at the hospital for 4 nights for evaluation and further observation. Even the physical therapy department of the medical center came and worked with her. Things went well.

She was discharged back to Pleasant Manor Health and Rehabilitation center after 4 nights. She is well loved by staff and residents of that facility. They called and asked about her while she was at Baylor Medical Center and they were happy to have her back.

Mom is not only back to the Rehab Center, but she is back in her PT routine to gain strength for walking. They have this device kind of like a walker, called a “merry-walker”. It is an enclosed walker device such that, if Mom gets fearful of falling, she simply sits down, since the seat is underneath her at all times. We discovered that her Achilles tendons have contracted which hinders her ability to stand up straight. We will be working on stretching those little hummers out a bit over the upcoming days and weeks.

Today Mom’s spirits were good. Even in her darkest moments, she still maintains that comedian-like sense of humor. Yep, she’s still a comic. Maybe that’s why all of us and so many other people love her so!

(Posted by Phil, Fran's baby boy.)

A Trip to the Hospital

Phil got a call from Pleasant Manor at 6:40 on Saturday morning that Mother was non-responsive and they had called 911 for her. He and Maribeth went straight to the Emergency Room and arrived at the same time she did. She was still not responsive. The first theory was that she might have had a small stroke. However, as the day progressed, tests did not show a stroke.

Pil called me (Mary) about noon on Saturday. They had admitted her for further testing and he was in the room with her. She was able to squeeze his hand if he asked her a question. While we were talking, she groaned, which Phil said is a good sign. Then, she called his name! He hung up immediately and called back later.

She slept most of the afternoon and had hot tea and crackers for supper. They wanted to take an EEG but that couldn't be done till Monday afternoon. I am assuming that "no news is good news." I'm sure Phil will call when they know anything else. It appears that it might have been a mini-stroke, also referred to as a TIA.

To be continued........

Out to Outback

On Friday, Mother and Maribeth took Phil out for his late birthday celebration (His "real" birthday was March 27th) at the Outback restaurant. She surprised everyone ......here she was, a white-haired lady in a wheelchair and as the waiter finished taking their orders, she said, "Wait a minute. I'd like a Fuzzy Naval." Maribeth said she and Phil were amazed that she had even thought of a drink - it did appear to be watered down orange juice and not strong. Mother also had a steak, a loaded baked potato, and a few petals of Phil's bloomin' onion. Then, she helped eat his birthday ice cream.

As they were finishing up, she said she wanted to take a steak dinner to Mark. Mark is a CNA who is very caring and kind to everyone. It almost appears that Mother has a little crush on him and had invited him to come with them, but he had to work. Maribeth tried to suggest that they take him a dessert but - no - it had to be a steak dinner!

On their way back to Pleasant Manor, she wanted to stop for some sugar-free cookies. They were passing a Kroger so they pulled in. They found the cookies, then she wanted candy (not sugar-free). Mother may be aging in various ways, but her sweet tooth is still intact!

Fran, the Ham

Not everyone knows what a clown Mother can be!

Confused and Homesick

Just when things seem to be going well for Fran, she then has a week like this past. Her therapy is going as well as can be expected. When she is thinking clearly she makes progress. When she is confused she goes back a few steps. There have been more confused times than lucid this past week. The doctor is making a few changes in her medications along with trying a different antibiotic for her chronic infections. We are hoping for a better week for her.

She has shown signs of homesickness. She says she wants to go home to Virginia, she misses her friends terribly. She lights up when she receives letters and cards from her family and friends. She spoke to her daughter Anita and good friend Aldeen Wenger, this past weekend, and just hearing their voices seemed to perk her up.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully she will have a better week.

More later...
Maribeth

This was Fran on her 75th birthday.
What a difference 9 years can make.

(Click on picture for larger view.)