My Mommy

[jimnyc]

Been out of touch here since Thursday as my Mom was admitted to the hospital.

She has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to begin with. She's been a bit incoherent lately and hasn't been eating or drinking much. She was severely dehydrated. She falls quite often and it turns out she has a broken clavicle, and I believe her ankle is a bit messed up too. Her oxygen level in her blood is low so they are putting some mask on her occasionally, to help increase this, as well as to perform tests. She's also a heavy smoker (likely the cause of most issues) and that has been put to a halt obviously. So not only is she dealing with the health/medical issues, but also dealing with quitting smoking and a serious reduction of the medicine she has been taking.

Not sure how long she'll be in there or what will be done when she gets released. She has been in there since Thursday. I was there for the weekend and came home yesterday but will be going back tomorrow or the next day.

And to top it off - today is her birthday!!! (My Dad's too, different years but the same day).

[diuretic]

You're there for her Jim, that would be a great comfort to her.

[Gadget (fmr Marine)]

Sending good thoughts your way....and Happy Bday to the folks!

[darin]

Be encouraged, Jim. Somehow, find goodness through this!

[manu1959]

all the best to you, your family and most of all your mom........

[remie]

My prayers are with you and your family Jim. Hang in there.

[Trigg]

my thoughts are with you

[jimnyc]

I have no alternative but to get updates from family via phone today as I am temporarily back in NY. My eldest brother who lives in Georgia drives a rig for a living and asked for a load up this way and is now in town. He called me a short while ago with an update. Apparently she has blood and fluids in her lungs and will be inserting a tube to her lungs via her chest sometime today to help remove the fluids. That, coupled with the oxygen mask treatments is intended to not only help her breathe better, and elevate her oxygen in the blood, but also help get oxygen to her lungs which is is major issue at this point.

Thank you all very much for the well wishes and support. It's much appreciated.

[hjmick]

Hang in there Jim. I don't know what else to say, just hang in there.

Best to your mom.

[retiredman]

my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Abbey Marie]

Prayers for J, and you too, Jim.

[Psychoblues]

Prayers and good thoughts for you, your family and mostly your mom, jimbo. I've always liked your mom even though I haven't seen her around or spoken with her in a very long time!!!!!!!! Please keep us posted, jimnyc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CockySOB]

Y'all are in our prayers, Jim.

[Kathianne]

My prayers are with all of you, especially your mom. One special lady she is! Happy Birthday, Joan!

[Sitarro]

All of my best, praying for ya'll as I type....... hang in there buddy. Happy Birthday Joan, get well soon!

[jimnyc]

Mom was moved yesterday to the CCU (coronary care unit). They have her on some medication to hopefully relieve the fluids, and if that doesn't work then they will go ahead with the tube as planned. She's pretty much stuck with the oxygen mask for now until they can get her breathing properly again on her own. They said she not only has all the fluids in her lungs, but in her chest weighing down on her lungs as well, making it difficult for her to breathe.

I sent her flowers yesterday and the fuckers basically confiscated them as they aren't allowed in the CCU area. She also has no telephone so I can't even call her. She can also only have 2 visitors at a time and the times are restricted throughout the day.

I'll update if I find out anything more this morning.

[diuretic]

I've been in an ICU unit too, they are very strict about things coming in and visitors so try not to let it worry you Jim, everything they do is for the patients' wellbeing.

Best wishes.

[No1tovote4]

When my Grandmother was in the hospital we couldn't bring flowers, they'd give her steroids for her breathing and she'd go nuts. She thought the nurses were going to come and perform satanic rituals (not kidding here folks) and force her to eat the flowers (somehow it was all part of the rituals), she then pronounced something about how they used matches that never made sense at all pointing at a photograph above her head.

[crin63]

I wish you and your family all the best Jim. I'm praying for you and your mom.

I frequently go to the hospital to visit people with my pastor. CCU and ICU are very restrictive. Sometimes we have to disinfect and wear gloves or masks. Frequently we cant even get into see people. Its all for the health of those in there but its still difficult for families to work with.

It sounds like you're a good son to your mom, so she knows how much you care even if you cant be there or talk on the phone to her.

[Abbey Marie]

Jim, by "tube" do you mean a ventilator? If she is staying off that for now, that's a good sign.

[KitchenKitten99]

As everyone else has said pretty much what I would say, I will just echo everyone else's sentiments and prayer thoughts.

[Kathianne]

Mom was moved yesterday to the CCU (coronary care unit). They have her on some medication to hopefully relieve the fluids, and if that doesn't work then they will go ahead with the tube as planned. She's pretty much stuck with the oxygen mask for now until they can get her breathing properly again on her own. They said she not only has all the fluids in her lungs, but in her chest weighing down on her lungs as well, making it difficult for her to breathe.

I sent her flowers yesterday and the fuckers basically confiscated them as they aren't allowed in the CCU area. She also has no telephone so I can't even call her. She can also only have 2 visitors at a time and the times are restricted throughout the day.

I'll update if I find out anything more this morning.
That sounds like congestive heart failure, my dad had that. He was successfully treated for it 3 times, though they could have done much more if not for kidney disease-result of blood products problem from WWII transfusions. Jim, I'm praying that she's well soon and more like her old self. As someone who had parents that went through all the things it seems like your mom is suffering from, they did have good years after the initial problems.

[red states rule]

My prayers are with your mom, Jim

[No1tovote4]

Yes, I shouldn't have used my time for a reminiscing episode...

Jim, keep up a strong positive attitude, they help along with prayers.

[Said1]

I hope things turn out well, and hope she's a good patient. She seems pretty fiesty!

[KitchenKitten99]

Just asking for an update on how she's doing...

[jimnyc]

I told Mom of this thread and the support/prayers offered and she was quite surprised. She asked to send a thank you along to everyone.

Please extend those thoughts and prayers as things still aren't very good. While they've been working on her lungs and getting her oxygen level increased, problems appear to have escalated with her heart. They performed a procedure yesterday (I think it was an angioplasty) and found a lot of blockages and they want to perform surgery ASAP but she's not healthy enough to go through such a procedure. We're waiting to hear back from the doctor as to what this means. Do we have time to get her healthy enough for the procedure? Does she have to have it anyway and take the huge risks involved? We're a bit unsure at this point and as you can imagine the emotions are running high.

Thanks again to all of you for bringing a smile to my Mom's face. And thank you all for giving me an opportunity to vent and talk in my own little way. I'll update if I find out anything additional.

[Immanuel]

I missed this thread but had wondered where you had been.

My prayers are with your mom and your family.

Immie

[diuretic]

It's an extremely difficult time Jim (yes I'm Captain Obvious), thanks for the update and my thoughts are with your mother and your family, I mean that sincerely.

[darin]

Wish I had more to say than "hang in there..."

:-/

[Gaffer]

She definitely has to be much stronger to get through the surgery. Hang in there Jim. All my best to you and Joan.

[NightTrain]

Wow, I didn't know any of this was going on, Jimbo.

Tell Joan I said hi and that I'm rooting for her. I always got a kick out of her posts, a very nice lady.

[jimnyc]

Mom was moved from JFK Hospital in Edison NJ to St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark. Shitty city, but the best "heart hospital" IN NJ.

They are going to do intensive testing to see if there are any alternatives to open heart surgery, which she isn't healthy enough for. A doctor at JFK told her she had a life expectancy of about 1-3yrs with or without the surgery. We consulted with a specialist and that's mostly the reason for the change in facility. Apparently, the heart surgeon at St. Michael's said there are a few other possible procedures but that they needed a full array of testing before they can see the full story and what she is a candidate for.

[darin]

wow. Fwiw, I'm A- if she happens to be, and needs anything.

:-/

Hang in there, Jim.

[stephanie]

wow, I've missed this thread for some reason...I hope your mom gets all healed up and gets back on the board real soon..


My prayers are with you boys and your mom.

[retiredman]

Mom was moved from JFK Hospital in Edison NJ to St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark. Shitty city, but the best "heart hospital" IN NJ.

They are going to do intensive testing to see if there are any alternatives to open heart surgery, which she isn't healthy enough for. A doctor at JFK told her she had a life expectancy of about 1-3yrs with or without the surgery. We consulted with a specialist and that's mostly the reason for the change in facility. Apparently, the heart surgeon at St. Michael's said there are a few other possible procedures but that they needed a full array of testing before they can see the full story and what she is a candidate for.

Jim...you and your Mom remain in my prayers!