PLATEOFSTARS's CalorieKing blog
Thursday, Jun 24 2010 - I'm back
View PLATEOFSTARS's food & exercise for this day
Last week I went back out to BC to visit my mom.
She has advanced heart failure and its complications (angina, shortness of breath, restricted mobility, etc), advanced diabetes and its complications (namely peripheral neuropathy... chronic pain essentially which is incurable and even the best drugs can't completely eliminate), asthma, kidney failure (related to diabetes?) and many more conditions.
She has a really sad and difficult life. It's hard to see her like that, you know? My beautiful, strong, amazing, inspiring mother is reduced to this frail person reliant on a cocktail of drugs (the list, half a page in length) which make her sleepy at the best of times and completely incoherent at the worst... and never completely out of pain.
One of my major catalysts for weight loss was seeing my mother and all of the health problems she lives with. I don't want that for myself. Going back to see her only further compounded my desire to keep this body healthy!
It was a hard trip, but a good one. I may have seen and been reminded of the sad and difficult life she has... but if nothing else she has that. Life!
Every day is a gift!
So in the spirit of laughter and fun - here's a pic from my trip. I met up with an old friend and we found these funny hats by the side of the road. Clearly the only thing we could do with them was put them on and take a picture!
She has advanced heart failure and its complications (angina, shortness of breath, restricted mobility, etc), advanced diabetes and its complications (namely peripheral neuropathy... chronic pain essentially which is incurable and even the best drugs can't completely eliminate), asthma, kidney failure (related to diabetes?) and many more conditions.
She has a really sad and difficult life. It's hard to see her like that, you know? My beautiful, strong, amazing, inspiring mother is reduced to this frail person reliant on a cocktail of drugs (the list, half a page in length) which make her sleepy at the best of times and completely incoherent at the worst... and never completely out of pain.
One of my major catalysts for weight loss was seeing my mother and all of the health problems she lives with. I don't want that for myself. Going back to see her only further compounded my desire to keep this body healthy!
It was a hard trip, but a good one. I may have seen and been reminded of the sad and difficult life she has... but if nothing else she has that. Life!
Every day is a gift!
So in the spirit of laughter and fun - here's a pic from my trip. I met up with an old friend and we found these funny hats by the side of the road. Clearly the only thing we could do with them was put them on and take a picture!
7 comments so far.
7.
a decade ago
I like your description of how your mom was before, and am sad for both of you that she has ended up like this.
Terrific hats!!!
by ABIZ
6.
a decade ago
I'm so sorry about your mom's health. It is so hard to see a parent become frail. Please hang in there and continue to take good care of yourself.
by YANKEE529
5.
a decade ago
Glad the trip went well, and I'm sorry to hear about your mom. All the more reason to savor every day, and squeeze from it drop of living from it that we can. My father has a number of health issues, and I worry about him all the time, so I understand. It's very tough to see. ((HUGS)).
by AUBRIEANNIE
4.
a decade ago
I am so sorry about your mom! I totally understand what you are saying about seeing your strong mother turning into this frail person. That is what we are dealing with my mom too. It's just sad any way you look at it. I hope things go better for her.
I am glad you had a little bit of silly time, I love the pic!
Welcome home!
by MRSDSB
3.
a decade ago
Oh Nicole-so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so difficult when we have to be the adults and take care of our parents. I agree with you though on seeing what your family medical history looks like for real and resolving to keep up your journey. That is exactly what finally turned the lightbulb on for me (or maybe hit me over the head). My dad had a "routine" heart surgery and spent 13 weeks in the hospital. I got a call 3 different times that I'd better get there fast because he wasn't going to make it. Then one day I was in the restroom outside the waiting area all alone and looked at myself in the mirror (overweight, double chin, sad eyes, lack of energy) and knew if I didn't do something then, that would be me in his hospital bed sooner rather than later. It is a wake up call.
:kiss:
Hope you get to spend even more quality time with your mom.
Janet
by ROZCRW4
2.
a decade ago
It's nice to have you back! Glad you had a safe trip.
:teeth1:
Sorry to hear about your Mom. She is lucky she has a wonderful daughter that she can be so very proud of.
by DMGRULKE
1.
a decade ago
So sorry to hear about your mother. That is a very sad situation to have to go through. I pray that she finds a way to at least be without pain. You're a very strong woman and ensuring that you stay healthy and try to avoid those complications in your own life later on is definitely the way to go. My heart goes out to you and your family.
:kiss:
:heart2:
Glad that you could find the time to smile and have a good laugh during your visit. It is important to find that little bit of happiness when we can even in the saddest of situations. Keep your head up girl.
by TNYBUBBLZ