The sandwich generation gets to welcome the newborns and help their aging parents. It is not easy trying to balance the sunrise of the new generation and the sunset of the passing one.
We got caught in this strange ebb and flow just recently when two sweet little girls were born into our family. We eagerly made the trek out to Springfield, MO and Great Falls, MT. It was fun to celebrate with our kids, the new parents.
Our first visit was to sweet Rosalie. She is a cuddly little thing who can sleep through all the noise her 2 yr old brother can dish out! Amazing gift that! And one she definitely needs:-)
Little Ellie already has a charming fashion sense and dramatic jazz hands. She already has her mommy and daddy wrapped around those expressive fingers!
Then my sister Debbie called. She had bad news about Mom.
Mom is in end-stage kidney failure and Debbie came out to stay with Mom while we traveled. They enjoyed being together, talking, lunching out and playing games. They enjoyed all that until Mom caught a cold or flu virus.
Her health spiraled down and Mom had trouble breathing. Seeing her situation, the hospice nurse prescribed hydromorphone, and larazapam. Mom’s condition worsened. Suddenly she was unable to walk with her walker, toilet herself or feed herself. Death seemed imminent. And the hospice nurse kept prescribing more hydromorphone!
Three days into the flu “cure”, I came home and Debbie and I conferred together. We decided to stop the hydromorphone. Mom steadily improved. Now, it’s been 13 days since Mom beat the cold or flu virus and she is still unable to walk or toilet herself.
In response to Mom’s new situation, my siblings and I moved Mom to Guardian Angels Assisted Living. It was a tough decision and it’s crazy expensive, but Mom is now safe from falling and she is getting help from hospice AND her medical doctor.
Live and Learn. It’s just hard being in the middle.
krhofhiens.com 