After talking with the physical therapist at the Rossville nursing home, he made it very clear that baring a miracle, Mom would never return to assisted living. I immediately set into motion the steps to transfer her to the St Elizabeth facility in Delphi. I had two reasons for that decision: Although I loved the assisted living facility and staff in the Rossville Healthcare unit, I absolutely got the willies when in the regular nursing side and would never, under any circumstance, leave Mom there. Secondly, the Delphi St Elizabeth Healthcare facility is beautiful, close to home, and has an Indiana Consumer Healthcare rating of 5 out of 5. Rossville has a 1 out of 5.
Last Friday, after working in the church office the whole week, Deke and I moved Mom to Delphi. We got as much furniture as possible from her apartment in the van then gathered up Mom's things in her nursing care room and scooted her out the door. She was dehydrated and zombie-like, but with our assistance, was able to get into our van for the trip. She moaned most of the way. The nurses at Delphi were expecting her and helped to get her settled in her room. Deke stayed with her through the admittance procedure of taking vitals etc while I filled out the paperwork. When all was done, I asked that a tray be brought for her dinner. She ate like she hadn't eaten in days.
The next day, Deke and I made two more trips to Rossville to clear out Mom's apartment. Emotionally, it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. By that time I had grown accustomed to the idea that Mom was on the next phase of her life, and this was the new normal.
She has settled in to her new digs quite well, and I am thrilled at the care she is receiving. I see her most days and find her calm and resting. I was able to see her Dr's physician assistant one day as he was making his rounds, and it was decided that Mom should receive some stronger pain med for her back. She had been on a regimen on Tylenol for years, but it wasn't working any longer. Yesterday, when I was with Mom, she didn't complain once about back pain.
So this is the beginning of another phase of our lives. Without getting maudlin and overly-dramatic, it feels like it looks outside: cold, wet, overcast and gray. However, I know from faith and experience that spring is coming for all of us. One of these days the sun will shine again and there won't be a cloud in the sky. Mom is gonna love that day when she sees the Son and is wrapped in the warm blanket of love. But until then, we will trust that He knows what He's doing, and we will rest in the Son's plan.
Nothing ever stays the same. This is our new normal.
