(no subject)
I visited my mother yesterday at rehab with my father. It was mandatory for us to attend this seminar/discussion group before hand - it was a 5 hour ordeal. Afterwards, we attended a group meeting with one of the counselors, (us as in all of the family members there visiting) with our 'addicts'. The entire event was intense and exhausting...when we entered the room for the group meeting, I don't think i've seen my mother look so wonderful or hear her so coherent in about 5 years.
It was almost like she woke up from a coma and she was my mother again. I pretty much didn't stop crying from that point onward during our visit.
The group session was hard - I am certainly not one to talk to strangers, or my family, so openly about things like this...it was totally bizarre to hear my mother actually talking about herself as an addict - in the sense that she's finally admitted to herself and everyone else that she has a disease. She even volunteered several times in the group to speak and open up about herself.
One of the other ladies there (also there for alcohol) stated how she didn't think my mother was going ot make it when she first arrived, but has seen her progress and thinks she is absolutely going to be okay. I think that's a far goal to stretch to right now, but her progress is definitely incredible.
Our personal visit was intense too. She was required to 'write a letter to her disease' in one of the group sessions as a homework assignment, and she actually gave it to me to read. She also is scared about the insurance not covering more time because she knows herself that she is definitely not ready to come home yet.
There's a possibility she may be transferred to a facility in florida that specializes in working with people with addictions who also need severe pain management.
I should mention that since she is now detoxed, she can barely walk because the alcohol isn't blinding her pain anymore and giving her abnormal strength to walk. Even though she had such a severe injury beforehand, the alcohol abuse atrophied even more of her leg muscles and thus she is only allowed to walk about 80 feet per day, she is in a wheelchair the majority of the time, and a nurse is there to shadow her every move.
They know she suffers with chronic pain and nerve injuries, so they are treating that as a duo with the alcohol and depression.
I have high hopes, I know it's too soon to be relieved, but it was good to see my mother as my mother again, even if it was in a rehab clinic. It was touching to see her like that.
It was almost like she woke up from a coma and she was my mother again. I pretty much didn't stop crying from that point onward during our visit.
The group session was hard - I am certainly not one to talk to strangers, or my family, so openly about things like this...it was totally bizarre to hear my mother actually talking about herself as an addict - in the sense that she's finally admitted to herself and everyone else that she has a disease. She even volunteered several times in the group to speak and open up about herself.
One of the other ladies there (also there for alcohol) stated how she didn't think my mother was going ot make it when she first arrived, but has seen her progress and thinks she is absolutely going to be okay. I think that's a far goal to stretch to right now, but her progress is definitely incredible.
Our personal visit was intense too. She was required to 'write a letter to her disease' in one of the group sessions as a homework assignment, and she actually gave it to me to read. She also is scared about the insurance not covering more time because she knows herself that she is definitely not ready to come home yet.
There's a possibility she may be transferred to a facility in florida that specializes in working with people with addictions who also need severe pain management.
I should mention that since she is now detoxed, she can barely walk because the alcohol isn't blinding her pain anymore and giving her abnormal strength to walk. Even though she had such a severe injury beforehand, the alcohol abuse atrophied even more of her leg muscles and thus she is only allowed to walk about 80 feet per day, she is in a wheelchair the majority of the time, and a nurse is there to shadow her every move.
They know she suffers with chronic pain and nerve injuries, so they are treating that as a duo with the alcohol and depression.
I have high hopes, I know it's too soon to be relieved, but it was good to see my mother as my mother again, even if it was in a rehab clinic. It was touching to see her like that.