a list
In the last two months,
Granny Jean's has contracted a deadly food-borne illness that should have killed her within 48 hours but didn't (they didn't go to the hospital until day 5); discovered 5 arterial blockages in her heart and had heart bypass surgery; developed severe post-op depression; gone back to the emergency room because of severe dehydration and exhaustion,
Mom's been driving back and forth from Alabama (8 hours one-way) to see her and has had at least one nervous breakdown (she is kind of dramatic about that kind of thing - that's where I get it from) and god-knows-how-many crazy blood pressure spikes that were bad enough for my dad to have to drive her around (including one round-trip to Alabama),
Dad has refused the tests/treatment for at least two major illnesses (sleep apnea, MRI for whatever neurological bullshit is causing his muscle problems), three if you count the depression that he refuses to talk about with anyone,
Aunt Irene has fallen and broken her hip, been shipped off to a subpar nursing home, discovered that she has colon cancer, and has lost all the personality that made her my favorite relative,
Granny C has fallen twice at Uncle Richard's and they've had to call 911 to get her up because neither he nor his wife is physically able to get her off the ground,
Honey, for a few months now, has been really weak -- she can only stand up every one out of three tries or so and usually has to have someone lift her hindquarters. She tends to collapse when she's trying to go to the bathroom. And today we found out that, *best-case scenario*, she has less than a year to live. She has a huge tumor on her spleen that may or may not be malignant, but regardless, it's growing and could at any moment cause her to bleed into her stomach (which would kill her). If it *is* cancer, it's spread through her entire body, which would give her 3-6 months. She also has some sort of infected skin disease all over her body and bilateral cataracts in both eyes. She has a low glucose level, and since her liver seems to be fine, it's either a tiny tumor that they couldn't see on her liver or pancreatic cancer. She's having surgery to have her spleen removed tomorrow or Friday. I asked the vet what her chances were when my parents were out of the room, and all she could tell me was that they had the best surgeons there.
I was in the waiting room while Honey was getting her tests and such because Dad had a doctor's appointment and Mom took him to it. I got a little upset while I was waiting, but nothing dramatic. Mom and Dad got back before they were done with honey, and they told us about the possibility of cancer(s), and Mom and Dad kind of lost it. I stayed pretty cool the whole time, and I wasn't really sure why, because I usually bawl up quicker than even Dad does, and after kind of freaking out just in the waiting room I figured I wouldn't be able to keep anything bottled up, but I think I'm just desensitized to bad news, maybe. *shrug*
Mom doesn't think Dad can handle Honey dying. I think she's probably right, and given her reaction in the exam room, I doubt that Mom will handle it any better.
everything is dying. it kind of sucks. now i know just how silly i was to want to grow up.
Granny Jean's has contracted a deadly food-borne illness that should have killed her within 48 hours but didn't (they didn't go to the hospital until day 5); discovered 5 arterial blockages in her heart and had heart bypass surgery; developed severe post-op depression; gone back to the emergency room because of severe dehydration and exhaustion,
Mom's been driving back and forth from Alabama (8 hours one-way) to see her and has had at least one nervous breakdown (she is kind of dramatic about that kind of thing - that's where I get it from) and god-knows-how-many crazy blood pressure spikes that were bad enough for my dad to have to drive her around (including one round-trip to Alabama),
Dad has refused the tests/treatment for at least two major illnesses (sleep apnea, MRI for whatever neurological bullshit is causing his muscle problems), three if you count the depression that he refuses to talk about with anyone,
Aunt Irene has fallen and broken her hip, been shipped off to a subpar nursing home, discovered that she has colon cancer, and has lost all the personality that made her my favorite relative,
Granny C has fallen twice at Uncle Richard's and they've had to call 911 to get her up because neither he nor his wife is physically able to get her off the ground,
Honey, for a few months now, has been really weak -- she can only stand up every one out of three tries or so and usually has to have someone lift her hindquarters. She tends to collapse when she's trying to go to the bathroom. And today we found out that, *best-case scenario*, she has less than a year to live. She has a huge tumor on her spleen that may or may not be malignant, but regardless, it's growing and could at any moment cause her to bleed into her stomach (which would kill her). If it *is* cancer, it's spread through her entire body, which would give her 3-6 months. She also has some sort of infected skin disease all over her body and bilateral cataracts in both eyes. She has a low glucose level, and since her liver seems to be fine, it's either a tiny tumor that they couldn't see on her liver or pancreatic cancer. She's having surgery to have her spleen removed tomorrow or Friday. I asked the vet what her chances were when my parents were out of the room, and all she could tell me was that they had the best surgeons there.
I was in the waiting room while Honey was getting her tests and such because Dad had a doctor's appointment and Mom took him to it. I got a little upset while I was waiting, but nothing dramatic. Mom and Dad got back before they were done with honey, and they told us about the possibility of cancer(s), and Mom and Dad kind of lost it. I stayed pretty cool the whole time, and I wasn't really sure why, because I usually bawl up quicker than even Dad does, and after kind of freaking out just in the waiting room I figured I wouldn't be able to keep anything bottled up, but I think I'm just desensitized to bad news, maybe. *shrug*
Mom doesn't think Dad can handle Honey dying. I think she's probably right, and given her reaction in the exam room, I doubt that Mom will handle it any better.
everything is dying. it kind of sucks. now i know just how silly i was to want to grow up.