Training Log Archive: Charlie

Event: UNO Pawtuckaway Camping Weekend
 

Rhonda called this morning at 6:15 to relate that my mom's breathing had become more labored, and then at 7:00 to say that she had passed away. A tough road, but she was reasonably comfortable, and she couldn't have had a better person holding her hand at the end than Rhonda.

Here is the last picture I took of her, on August 30, when we were expecting that she might have another bounce in her and be returning home. She had some kind of episode a few days later, perhaps a minor stroke, and was in decline for the last 9 or 10 days.

Virginia DeWeese (10/26/1923 - 9/11/2010)

C • Moms 8

Took the dogs out for their morning dog walk, and I guess I am getting better because it wasn't a struggle for me. Thursday I had to cut it short, and yesterday I could do it, but not without a bit of difficulty.

Anyway, the dogs had a stimulating time, because they came upon a bear and gave it a good chase. Eventually they came harrumphing back, displaying their indignation at a bear intruding on their territory. Just lucky they didn't catch it.

Gentle low-key tour of W Simsbury. Objective was not to get breathing too hard, and that worked fine. Throat a little scratchy at the end, but otherwise very satisfactory. A beautiful day. Included an unscheduled 3 minute break to answer a call from my mom's friend Paula.

Starting to get better, but not enough to risk any exercise.

Went with Zack to Holyoke for the 5K. Zack to run, I to be a proud papa and take pictures. Very fine. A little surprised to see him emerge in 4th, running strong and well under 19. Pretty great race for him, and fun to be watching.

On the way home we had an AOWN encounter. As we started up the back side of Ratlum Mt we were waylaid by an attack raccoon who tried to steal our right front hubcap. We took some appropriate evasive action, but we may not go back that way for a few days.

tough night, and still pretty beat up. throat a bit less sore, but more junk in my chest, still tired and achy

Thought I might be on the mend, but spiraled down. Very sore throat, achy joints, the fear of it descending into my chest. Went to the doc and got dosed with antibiotics.

Rhonda and I went down to see my mom, Virginia on Thursday. We had just returned home Monday, and even on Wednesday I was able to talk with her on the phone, although she lamented feeling confused. When I talked with the nurse on Thursday, though, it was clear that things had been changing rapidly. When we got there she was asleep and looked pretty wiped out. Then the phone rang and startled her and she woke up and recognized us right away. She was very happy to see us, but pretty weak and not able to say much.

She had had a couple of rough days, with bouts of pain and agitation. A few days earlier we had been able to take her for a short walk, and to take her out quite a bit in the wheelchair. Now she was hooked up to a catheter, nasal cannula and at first one and then two ports to administer different meds, as she was increasingly unable to swallow even liquid meds.

Each day she has lost a bit more ground. On Friday she drank a can of Ensure. Saturday she was able to eat a bit of chocolate ice cream, but nothing to drink, and by Sunday nothing to eat either. She had a few bouts of anxiety when she was trying to pull the cannula off, pull her gown off, and climb over the bed rail. More meds left her apparently more relaxed and sleeping. She has also been having bouts of breathing trouble, but various meds and treatments have been keeping that under control.

Our tickets home were for Sunday. Rhonda couldn’t stand to leave her like this, so I came home to help Zack as he is getting ready for school, and to try to catch up on work. Rhonda will follow in a few days. Virginia’s color is generally good, which may mean that, while the end is near, it is not imminent. Likely to be a few more days. Rhonda is hanging out with her pretty much all day, every day.

At this point it is not clear how much she knows about what is going on. There have been occasional moments where there seems to be a flicker of understanding, like when my cousin Matt called the other day and I held the phone to her ear.

At this point, a few words about hospice nurses. Wow! What kind and compassionate women! They have certainly become a very important part of not only my mom’s life, but ours as well.

AOWN

A dead bird at the bottom of a window, and strangely enough, the same species as the last one I found near a window, maybe a month ago. Ironic that these poor little fellows are coming a cropper just as school is starting up.

Stanley Park 3 miles, with Zack. Zack was 2nd today, in 18:09. Nice weather, but feeling a little punk with my cold and didn't push too hard.

Event: WCOC Pond Mountain