Mom out of the Hospital

Helen was so happy to be out of the hospital, I taped her joy. Now she repeated what I told her to say but on the way home she said she was going to say, "yahoo!" when she got back inside her home and in her chair. I kept to her promise. Much has been happening over the past few months. Caregiver change, mom changes and now a hospice consult as she never wants to return to the hospital again. This past year has seen many changes and little by little Helen is leaving us. She still has many things she remembers and knows us all still. I am grateful for that. I want her to have dignity in this disease process and only want the best. To keep her safe and happy is now the primary goal.

Pictures from the Play!

Had a great time doing a play in Hollywood. Had my doubts initially and then, wow, what a great time. All the cast was a wonderful talented group. Our Director Drew was just a great guy! I could do this again!

I am in a play. I am Mrs. Robertson and it runs for four Wednesdays ending Oct.13th. Contact me for tickets if you are heading into Hollywood or just want to go to see the play.

A Blog Holiday

Since my last posting there has been so much happening that I can not even write it down. Caregiver issues. Caregivers needed and caregivers obtained has been a full time job. Mark's dad, as well, now needs the help of caregivers.
I am now the manage health care provider for my mom, the personal shopper, the accountant to name a few. She has progressed in her disease but still knows all of us and remembers many of the old times. I have now tried to really listen to what she talks about. I know that the stories have sometimes gotten mixed together but they are interesting just the same.
I have a safe return bracelet that she needs to wear as she had a "adventure" the other day with getting lost with in Leisure World.
Many mornings she will weigh herself and she has been 103#, 113# and then returning to her average weight of greater than 160#. I smile when she tells me of her weight.
Nothing is wrong with Helen at this time according to her. She does ask why she needs to have he caregivers. There is nothing wrong. I look for the smiles, and do the best I can keeping her safe and happy.

Letter to all

Dear Everyone,
I'm writing to share the news that my mom, Helen, has been diagnosed with symptoms of Demnetia/Alzheimer's disease. We've all been noticing changes and are relieved to have an explanation. Helen has begun treatment to slow the disease's progression and is unfazed. She still thinks that there is nothing wrong with her and her behaviors at this time.
Please know that Helen is still the same person she was before this diagnosis. Although some activities are more challenging and her short-term memory is poorer, Helen 's general health is now back to where she was priviously. Doctors explain that this disease affects everyone at a different pace and in different ways. It usually progresses pretty slowly. Our hope, of course, is that my mom remains stable for years and, with everyone's love and support, continues to live a happy life. There is no cure today -- but we remain hopeful that there will be one in time to help my mom and millions of others. Please keep us in your thoughts at this difficult time -- and don't be a stranger. Helen still likes to play cards, take short walks and see friends and family. She'll enjoy short visits to talk about old times. Alzheimer's experts say families, too, need the support of friends and family as this disease progresses and takes up more of our time and energy. Your continued
involvement will cheer all of us. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions or want to know specific ways to lend a hand. I'll keep you posted on her condition and changing needs. Thanks for caring.
Sincerely,
Laurie

In Minya

Old Friends in Minya. Some of the women returned again to hear us speak!

Starting the Medical Mission In Egypt

We began our Mission April 19, 2010

The train to Minia.
Our group, Laurie, Lucinda, Nancy, Minia our translator, Ragaa and Brooke
Cairo. A view from my room of the Nile and the surrounding city. Always busy, a city that never sleeps, there is always someone up driving around honking thier horns.
When I first arrived to Maadi outside of Cairo, where my cousins live, I was wisked away for a wonderful, relaxing trip to Ain Sokhna on the Bay of Suez. Ain Sukhna, the Arabic for "hot spring", was named after the nearby sulfur springs. The springs originate at Gebel Ataka, the northern most mountain in the Eastern Desert. As we sat on the beach, the cool wind blew and we could see the Sinai across the beautiful blue water. The young ones got into the water, but I was just too cold to attempt it.

I missed March!

Time can fly by, that is for sure. March was fun. So many birthdays and I turned 50! It is not so bad. My family had a GREAT party for me as I wanted to celebrate for this big birthday. I have put is some pictures of the event and I know we all had a great time. Michelle, Greg, Mark, Jen and Becky and Mike did so much to help so that it was a special event in my life. Thank you to all. I love you!

Yummy Dinner for two!

Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms for 2
2 large portabello mushrooms
2 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 sweet onion, diced
8 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped finely
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 (5 oz.) bag of baby spinach
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, roughly chopped
4 oz. low-fat cream cheese

1. Remove stems from mushrooms, brush off any dirt or debris and roughly chop.
2, Marinate the caps in the apple cider mixed with balsamic vinegar (use a ziplock bag or wide, shallow bowl) for at least 2 hours.
3. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and cover the bottom with water. Add garlic, onion, chopped mushroom stems, sun-dried tomatoes and cook briefly or until garlic is fragrant. Add spinach and thyme and cook until spinach is wilted.
4. Transfer spinach-mushroom mixture to a bowl and fold in cream cheese.
5. Remove mushroom caps from marinade and fill with mixture. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, until mushroom caps are heated through.

Serve with brown rice and squash puree, if desired. A nice garden salad and some dark chocolate for dessert!

Mathamagician

You have to check out this guy! A mathamagician! Wow is all I can say! I can barely do my times tables! CLICK HERE to see Art at work!

Airport, Santo Domingo and Jimani

Stops along the way

We stopped along the way and met a team on the way back from Jimani. The doc filled us in on what to expect. The driver took us to a fast food restaurant which I did not eat. I fell in love with the cute Dominican boys on the street!

On the road to Jimani

Good Samaritan

We arrived to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Jimani after our long drive. We were greeted and given a quick tour. All of us were anxious to get started. It was very busy and people and vehicles and supplies were all over. It looked like some military scene and we found out soon how our mash unit was run.

Scenes

Much was always happening in different parts of the hospital, the orphanage, the chapel, the OR, the tent. We had sick (septic) patients and throughout our stay there were no deaths. The people there from all over the world, Spain, Canada, USA were an amazing group of people. Our goal was to get this hospital up and running like you would find in the States. We were on a roll and those that came after hopefully were able to follow those before to maintain and improve the health care these people received. I have never started IV's in the dirt with blowing winds from helicopters or the breeze that came up every night. Foleys placed with headlamps. Dressing changes that had to be timed as not to have too much dust blowing when you removed the dressing. Through their pain there were always smiles. I had to work at getting them sometimes, but once they came the white teeth showed and the smile was ear to ear. It seemed that once they smiled at you they remembered and smiled often. I carried medicine in my fanny pack so I was ready to medicate and try and keep the edge down for them. A touch helped and we were constantly holding hands and a stroke of a face, a touch on their shoulder or chest sometimes was the pain relief. All of their pain was not from the broken or missing limbs but from the terror of the quake. The knowledge that their whole family was killed, their sons and daughters were missing, or that they would never walk again from the spine injury they received when the ceilings came down on them.

Earthquakes

While we were there we had an earthquake or aftershock each day. I think there was one day when we did not have some movement. The first one occurred towards afternoon, evening and I only really heard a sound as I was busy getting the people organized by room and name onto paper so we would have some kind of record who was in our area and names. I was in the last room when I heard a noise and a woman grab her son who had a full leg cast and possibly a broken pelvis and started dragging him out side. He was crying I thought from pain but I realized it was most likely from fear. Everyone had terror in their face and started grabbing their loved ones to get them outside, no matter the injuries all were dragged from the room. A man jumped from the second story of the building. I stood there with other nurses and doctors watching the scene. I felt the fear they had and imagined the big quake and what must of been felt that day. It brought tears to my eyes and we all just watched the commotion and the fear. As it was getting darker they had sheets up for some protection around their areas. They were very close together and started to sing. A whole group, a large group of people singing acapella the same song. It was something I just can not explain. We then with out head lamps went out and checked every single person to make sure they were not injured more and had their folder with them. I learned throughout the week that they were very good about keeping that folder near and close.

Getting it all together

The leadership was amazing. Imagine coming to Mission with everyone and their family laying on mattresses on the ground the patient only having a card tired to them with a misspelled name and brief information about the injury. Now you have all these supplies coming with many people standing around wanting to help. You have hours to get it all together. We arrived after they started to "get it all together" I respect those that were there in the initial chaos and those that were trying to achieve some organization to the masses, be it the injured and the care givers. What an amazing group of doctors!