Friday, September 4, 2009

Long Distance Caring

Far Away Sister and I are becoming increasingly frustrated. Brother and Sister don't seem to think Dad's congestive heart failure is that serious. After being down 7 pounds yesterday, his weight was up 2 today. So he's now back up to 68 pounds of fluid he's retaining. None of his shoes or clothes fit him. Brother's comment today, "At least we know the diuretic still works." Sister, who was going to get orders from the doctor about diet for him so he wouldn't be eating high sodium food, still hasn't managed to get that done. Now it's the weekend, and it will be at least Tuesday before she can get that done because of the holiday. Assuming, of course, he is still alive on Tuesday.
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Far Away Sister and I feel like we're walking a tightrope. Sister is so defensive right now and having such a hard time that it's hard to even ask her a question or offer her help without her being offended. Far Away Sister says she's afraid that the staff at his assisted living facility must think we don't care and are willing to just stand by and watch his health decline. She's called and left a message for the nurse to call her tomorrow. She wants her to know that she is willing to do anything that needs to be done to help Dad, and that she has a greater sense of urgency that Brother and Sister, who are stuck in denial about the seriousness of his condition. Nurse told Sister Thursday that she thought about Dad all day Wednesday while she was off, because she was afraid all the fluid would overtax his heart and it would just give out. She was relieved to find he was still alive on Thursday. But no rush on changing the diet or anything....
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But hey, at least we know the diuretic still works-- for one day anyway.

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