From The Past: December 18, 2008
Mom has felt bad off and on for over a week now. She goes through spells where she shakes (chills) uncontrollably. In the past, this has meant she has an infection and for this reason, she called and left a message with someone at her doctor’s office Monday. Home Health comes once a week to draw blood, but she knew that she needed an extra blood test in order to find the infection.
Long story short, they didn’t get her message that day. Home Health had to have a doctor’s approval before doing the extra blood work so that insurance would cover it. Because her doctor’s office didn’t get her message, the blood was not drawn.
She called her doctor’s office again Tuesday and was able to speak with her nurse. I believe she and the nurse have bonded on a personal level. Anyway, the orders were given and Home Health came. They received the results that she does indeed have an infection at 9 PM Wednesday night. Mom was not notified until after 11 this morning.
When I arrived, she was under at least six blankets, she had a heater turned on her, her mattress pad was on High, and she was wearing a sweater and a shirt underneath that, but she was still chilling. She has told me in the past that she shook so hard, she was sore the following day. This is the type of chilling she experienced today.
The nurse wanted her to head straight for the ER, but Mom refused and said she would wait for a bed at the Markey. She said this because in the past when she went to the ER at UK, not only did she have to wait for hours, but she was also around all kinds of sick people. She should not be around sick people when her counts are low, so she made the decision to wait.
When I left, she was still in the bed which shows how terrible she felt. No matter what, Mom always makes an effort to get out of bed. I couldn’t have felt sorrier for her.
I called a little before five this evening and no one had called Mom or Dad about an available bed. After seven there still had been no call, however Mom and Dad were headed to the Markey anyway. When they walked in, someone told them that her bed had been available for over an hour. I find it very odd that no one had called to let them know.
So, that is where she is now. I have told you all I know. I will let you know when I find out more tomorrow.