ICU Waiting Room

Hey Friends.....

On our luxurious over-night getaway I answered my beeping cell phone at 6:30 am to hear my frazzled and tearful sister saying that our Mom in ICU many miles away was getting worse and they needed me there as soon as possible. We were at my mother's bedside by easter morning. After spending all day every day in ICU (including 2 all-nighters) for the last 7 days we are finally back home. My energy will only allow some bullets for now.

• Drove ten hours and entered ICU to see my frisky, creative and vivacious 76 year old mom covered in tubes, face mask, needles and bruises from punctures.
• When mask removed she could barely whisper words to us, but smiled to see me and Hubs arrive.
• Both my sibs and I were there around her every day. 
• Got to know the "good" nurses and the "bad" nurses.
• Terrible to see her with no make-up and with imperfect hair in front of strangers! She would so hate that! And we may still hear about that in the days to come.
• I spent two nights on a fold out chair in her ICU room. Not a lot of sleep happening there!
• Some of her stuff has mended and improved, but her lungs are similar to a smokers.
• She never smoked, thought it was a sin.
• Lungs were damaged from her heart meds taken the last four years. I know, don't get me started!
• My time with my sibs was wonderful, painful, healing and uplifting.
• I posted two short blogs on Goodblogs while in the ICU Waiting Room, go check them out won't you? ( and vote for them?)

As things progress and my mind figures out how to process the grittier details I may find a way to tell you about them in the coming days. for now, I seem to be hearing my comfy bed calling me.