Parkwood homecoming a happy one
By Johanna Mohringer, Columnist, Lebanon Reporter
July 31, 2008 10:19 am
— It has been an eventful week, with moving from St. Vincent’s Hospital back to Parkwood. It was already too late in the day for senior services to provide transportation and I would have had to wait till the next day. However, I did not want to wait, so I called my son and he was willing to come and get me. It was a new adventure to transfer from wheelchair into a regular minicar. However, where there is a will there is a way, and we did it! It was wonderful to breathe some fresh air. It was like a new awakening, breathing on my own again and feeling and seeing the sunshine.
I got my old room and roommate back, which is more than I expected. It was like a homecoming. Since then I have made much improvement. I am on Coumadin, a blood thinner, so I have to be careful. Therapy is somewhat limited since I still have blood clots. Yet I can move that leg on my own power and bear weight on it. Every day I feel somewhat stronger. My appetite has returned and I feel great!
I even went to church in my son’s car. It was so nice to see my friends there. I know many people had been praying for my recovery. I think I was the only one who prayed that I would die. I was “outprayed” and now I am again a happy camper with a new chance in life. I suppose my work was not done yet.
I am back to my crocheting and knitting and have reopened my “shop” here. My door has become a colorful display of handmade articles. It looks festive and attracts “window shoppers” too.
Parkwood has provided me with a lift-chair, so I can now get up by myself. It is so comfortable that I hate the thought to leave it behind when I will get discharged. So, right now I do enjoy the lazy life, where others regulate my medications and blood work, bring my meals, set up appointments and decide what I can or cannot do.
Yes, life is good and I have found many new friends here, somewhat like an extended family.
My kids visit here more often that when I was at St. Vincent’s. It is closer and less time consuming for them. Other friends also feel free to drop in.
I am not a NASCAR race fan, but I heard about the trouble they all had with the Goodyear tires and having to make several pit stops to exchange tires. This made me think of myself, having to make stops on the race to recovery, which makes the “race” last longer and keeps the excitement alive! Never a dull moment.
Finally, a change of scenery
By Johanna Mohringer
August 20, 2008 09:04 am
— This time it looks like the move to my daughter’s is really going to happen. No sounds to the contrary have been heard so far. I am writing his late, in case something would interfere and there would be a change in plans (oh, ye of little faith), but all things are “go.”
Just looking around in my room makes me wonder if I need a U-Haul for the move. Amazing what one can accumulate in just a few weeks. I have to dismantle my “shop,” pack the unsold knitted and crocheted articles, plus several boxes with yarn. I received several big yarn donations while I was here. So it looks like a big job ahead.
Yes, it really is happening this time. This last week has flown by. I have had several orders to fill, which kept me busy, and also got me in closer contact with residents as well as staff.
On one hand, I will really miss that contact, yet it is also a good feeling to start moving forward on the goal to be on my own.
I goes against my nature to be dependent on others. To a certain extent, we always are, but I don’t want to lean hard on others, not becoming a burden if I can help it.
I will miss the hustle and bustle in the early morning hours. One of the residents with feel that is a time to rejoice, but like to sleep a few more hours, and grumble their discontent.
Yet new days arrive — the happy, as well as the unhappy, ones. It is up to each one of us to make the best of it.
The turnover is tremendous. Some are here to stay, some just to recuperate. Yet, even when you are here to stay you might still move into a different “district” within the building. No moving van is needed, just a dolly to carry your possessions to a different “street.”
It must be a headache to be in charge of this all, trying to keep the residents happy.
Yes, I will miss all of this, which was such an important part of my life for several weeks. Yes, the move has been made and I am sitting in my new liftchair. It is even nicer and more comfortable than the one I had in Parkwood. The massager is in my back and my daughter’s cat is purring in my lap: A peaceful and soothing combination.
