Triptus Interruptus. My Mom Is Very Ill

Wednesday, September 4

A couple of weeks before leaving for our trip, I flew to NJ to help my mother. A month shy of her 89th birthday, she was going to have her second heart valve replacement. For a number of reasons I don't understand, Mom had to wait 3 months for the surgery. During that time Mom had gone from a remarkably healthy and energetic woman, to a frail person who had brain fog, balance problems and significant trouble breathing. So I went to help her until it was time for her to go to the hospital.

Fortunately my sister Susan, her wife and daughter live near my Mom. They are extremely close and my sister does most of Mom"s caretaking, Because Mom was so strong and capable, she really only needed help with her phone and computer. But as Mom got weaker and weaker over the past couple of months,, it was only fair for me to help out. So I did. Just a couple of days before her surgery, I flew home to prepare for our big trip. My brother Josh and his wife Patti traveled to NJ from their home in California to be there for the surgery and to help Mom, who was expected to go home a couple of days later. The surgery took place the day we began our trip.

Well things don't always go as planned, especially in hospitals. The valve replacement resulted in unforeseen complications. Mom's in the ICU with an infection and pneumonia. Her breathing is worse and she is having trouble processing and remembering information, especially from doctors. So like most elderly people in hospitals, she needs to have family around to advocate and help her. My brother and sister were doing a fantastic job and Mom was improving until today when Susan came down with COVID. My brother, who has tested negative so far, has been with our sister 24/7 so his risk and exposure are signinficant, Neither can be around my mother, who was also exposed.. She tested negative this afternoon. Hopefully the equipment that has been helping her breathe, protected her from COVID. So, we packed up Rhoda, left Coloma and headed to my brother's home in Sacramento. Rhoda is parked in front of his house and I'm preparing to fly east tomorrow. Jamie, the dogs and Rhoda will hunker down in Sacramento until I can fly back and we can hopefully continue our trip.

Good night from Sacramento