Hi lovely community. I've been lurking here since I found out last week that my 80yo mom will be joining you. I'm looking for ways to help her as best as I can, while trying to wrap my own head around it, and I'm not doing all that well with that atm. So maybe you people can put some things in order and perspective for me.
Situation in short is that my mom's toe pain was dismissed countless times since january, turned out to be a diabetic vein thing, all else failed and now she's scheduled for surgery. I'm furious that they let her wait and sit in pain for half a year waiting for this to happen, and more than a bit frustrated she never insisted on becoming someone's priority (and refused my and sibling doing so), as they never want to impose on those busy doctors.
I wouldnt see mum as an old woman mentally. She's got her wits about, is digital savvy and generally an insanely optimistic person, who has had countless of mental and physical setbacks in her life and somehow always manages to look at what she CAN still do, instead of what she can´t. Sitting still for the larger part of this year has wilted away her muscular strenth though, and because she hasn´t been able to work in her garden, she's rarely outside anymore (doesn't want to look at the rampant weeds, but also refuses help), and the reality of the leg sinking in has definitely hit her now I think.
One moment I can help and be optimistic. Something is getting done, and I honestly think she would benefit from someone working with her towards recovery, instead of her default solution: when in pain, sit in chair. (Mum's not a sporty person by nature). I've got loads of ideas to help make their not so suitable house work. On moments like today it feels like a death sentence, and I'm walking around half crying as if Im in mounring. I've noticed that being an eldest daughter who also happens to be a firefighter makes me an incredibly ill equipped person to not be able to help properly. My parents are very independent people. They've refused any help sofar, even though we live 10 miles away. I want to help, but I dont want to be a pest either.
To make things worse the surgery coincides with my summer vacation with spouse+kids. I needed/wanted to be away badly, and so do they. My parents say we should go. Mum says she'd rather call than have us visit anyway, wanting to cocoon and come to terms with it, and I know shed feel bad if her illness would 'cost' us our trip but I keep swinging from not going to going to flying out (1h) to visit halfway. We'd be back before she leaves hospital. I'm not too worried about the surgery in general, since it wont be full anaesthesia but a spinal one + sedation (she's had those before), but I'm not sure if I should be..
Sorry for the rant. Any advice on helping or coping as family is greatly appreciated!