You Take the Good, You Take the Bad, You Take them All, and There You Have, The Facts of Life. The Facts of Life.
So, after a great weekend in Chicago, I came back to find out that my uncle (my mother’s 87 year old brother) suffered a heart attack and possibly stroke while I was away. My parents, reluctant to drive at night, in rush hour, in traffic, off-Cape, over 55 mph, in the left lane of a highway, to unfamiliar places, in the rain, or in the snow, came up yesterday (a holiday) mid-day and lounged about the house until I got home.
After I got home from work, I drove my mother to the hospital while my father helped Dusty acclimate to the new surroundings.
We arrived at the hospital to find him in the intensive care unit, looking week. His left side didn’t move and although he could speak, it was slurred (left side of his face wouldn’t move).
He went from strange moments of intense clarity to moments of confusion. For example, he told us to visit his wife (who was staying with her sister). When he gave us the street address I said that my childhood best friend’s winter home was on that street (they summered across the street from us on the Cape). I told my uncle my friend’s last name and he knew the family…even told us the correct first name of his father and knew about their kids.
But a minute or two later he’d tell my mom not to forget to call their other sister to let her know that he’s in the hospital. Sadly, that sister has been dead for 15 or so years.
Anyway, he said he wasn’t in any pain…he was just grumpy and frustrated at being there. He also still possesed his sense of humor. My mom asked if he could lift his left arm (the side that appeared paralized). He said “of course”, then took his right arm and lifted his left arm with it.
As we were leaving, my mom grabbed his left foot while saying good bye. He couldn’t even tell that she was touching (then tickling) it. She did the same to his right foot and he immediately lifted his leg to recoil.
Sigh.
We’re heading back today (rumor has it they’re transfering him to rehab at some point).
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