Bad Blood

I know....I have been gone, but as they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder".

I however had so much going on...la ti da. No really, I was busting my butt to complete my self imposed "work", I mean crafts. When I had a few minutes I was honestly just plain lazy. THEN, my world went a lot dark and glum.

Last Friday, after the holiday boutique, I was vegging around and my auntie called. Apparently, my Grammy fell while decorating her Xmas Tree. (Stupid tree!) She managed to drag herself to her phone, dial 911, and we assume back to the door to allow their entry. She was taken to the hospital, where they supported her with pain management over night waiting for the specialist coming in the next day. She had her surgery, and the leg was repaired just fine. Then my aunt called again. She had lost blood during the surgery and recieved a transfusion. This caused her body to react with antibodies. It caused a downward spiral from then on. I was called in to the hospital Saturday morning. My grammy was not doing well at all. She was having trouble with her blood pressure (the night before it went dangerously low and during the next 2 days it was super high with meds), her kidneys were not functioning, and her heart rate was erratic.

I hauled ass and was crying as I was driving in the hour to the hospital. I practically ran in from the parking lot, not knowing what was waiting for me.

What I saw, made me so so sad. My Grammy, pale and tied to her bed with about 10 different IV bags flowing into her. She had a breathing tube and arm restraints keeping her from pulling it out. My Grammy, at 80 is more vivacious than people lots younger than her. She stands 5'11" and is strong. Here she was, motionless and unresponsive. So freaking hard. We all collected. My brother and mom, my aunts, uncles and cousins all made the hospital our 1st home and Grammy's house our 2nd. We were there for all the visiting sessions on Saturday, with each one more grim and saddening. When we left for dinner we were certain our return the next morning would be the one where we had to decide....We ate a large table at Applebee's. The waitress, unwittingly asked what our occasion was. I said sadness...she was a bit speechless. We congregated at Grammy's. A giant family sleepover such as never has happened-without her. We remembered, and passed the Jack Daniels around. After being stupid and silly in our grief we managed to quiet down and most of us didn't sleep. I was up a few times, just sad. Sitting next to her favorite chair and remembering and feeling sad about the visits I didn't plan.

The next morning we doused in coffee and choked a few bites in. We even went so far as to make some calls and investigate some funeral homes.

We made our way (leaving 2 cousins and an aunt at the house to come to terms). When we made it to her room...what an amazing, amazing change!!! My Grammy was awake and gesturing and rolling her eyes and shrugging. We called the others, who came as fast as the law would allow.

Now, 3 days later, she is without the breathing tube, is feeding herself the ensure, is off of all meds but the pain med. She is still having kidney issues, and has recieved dialysis twice. We are hoping for this to kick them back into gear on their own without having to continue the treatment. However, she is alive, coherent, questioning her status, and all the little postive steps that tell us we have her back. Simply amazing.