A Rose in the Wintertime

Hello Family and Friends

Following a week of partying, lengthening days, and the ongoing pleasure of a new larger room, we write to share news of Isabel's long-term plans.

For some weeks now, we have known that it is unlikely that Mum will have the strength to wean herself from the respirator-ventilator at this time.  It has become obvious to us and to the medical staff that Mum is consistently healthier and has more energy and enjoyment of her days when she has the accompaniment of the ventilator. 

Mum's health has improved significantly enough that she is no longer considered acutely ill. She has had a consistently stable seven weeks, and the time has come for her to be discharged from the General Hospital. 

Isabel will be moving to Wascana Extendicare in Regina as a long-term resident.  Rural facilities closer to Abernethy do not accept a patient who uses a ventilator to help them breathe. Wascana is the only place in our health region (urban and rural Regina) that accepts such a resident.  As a long-term resident, Mum will receive some physiotherapy and occupational therapy; and ongoing speech therapy. 

We expect Isabel's move to occur this week.

We continue to not know what Isabel's long-term physical health will be. There are no longitudinal studies on the outcome of West Nile Neurological Syndrome Poliomyelitis. Mum continues to work very hard to gain physical strength and she will be monitored to see what her potential is for future weaning from the ventilator.  But right now, she is to have three months of rest from weaning.

Our coming to realize that Mum would not be able to wean from the ventilator and return to live closer to her own home has been a time of grief for Mum and for us all.   And we know that this grief is shared by Isabel's extended family and friends.

Isabel ~ in her own determined positive way continues to lead us ~ and  to invite us all  ~ her friends and her family ~ to meet her where she is at ~  her usual vibrant loving self interested in other people and her various communities.  

Mum tells everyone that comes through her door that she is going to Wascana.  She is accepting this move.   As we have said so often on this blog, Mum has not lost any of her cognitive ability, memory, sense of humour, care about others, and profound ability to engage with everyone she meets.  We expect she will be no different in her new home at Wascana as she meets the variety of people of many ages and backgrounds who live there. Isabel's emotional energy and ability to maintain many relationships with friends and family has not altered. She knows her friends' phone numbers and asks about things that people told her last spring. 

Mum wants to be up in her chair every day as long as she is able.  She loves visitors and actively inserts her questions into a circle of conversation through mouthed words and pointing to her letter-board.  She looks forward to every day and is so determined. 

We have attempted to explain Mum's situation as well as we are able.  We invite your questions. Your questions help us know what is being said "out there" and help us to be clearer about what is happening.

In mid-January, twelve red short-stemmed roses arrived in Mum's room as a gift from Abernethy friends. Ten days later, these perky roses continue to bloom in her big window.  They remind us of the HOPE that comes like "a rose in the winter-time". Their presence is a reminder of the refrain of a song: 

"And I'll bring you hope

When hope is hard to find

And I'll bring a song of love

And a rose in the winter time."

- Carolyn McDade

Twelve roses bring HOPE twelve-fold as we anticipate this next chapter in our lives.  Prayers and HOPE come in many forms. Thanks for hanging in with us.

Love Isabel, Janet, Nancy, and Catherine and our Families

Cups o' Kindness

Hello All

Isabel continues to uphold her reputation as "Party Gal" on 6F.  January 25 ~ Robbie Burns' Day ~ was a very full day!

Her visitors included among others ~ her three daughters; her Scottish cousin; a niece, grand-niece, and great grand-niece; and several friends from home including three friends with whom she has traditionally celebrated Burns' Night.

Her doctor (who just happened to be in the room at the time) welcomed in a steaming haggis that had travelled two hours from Yorkton. It was carried in by a kilt-wearing Scot who delivered Burns' "Address to the Haggis". The first few lines are loosely translated as: 

"Fair is your honest happy face

Great chieftain of the pudding race

Above them all you take your place... "

In true Canadian style, two visitors who tried haggis for the first time declared the mix of ground meat, pinhead oatmeal and spices to be rather like "a delectable Scottish Ukrainian cabbage roll"!

Mum requested that we play bagpipe and drum music all day.  The nurses had to quickly learn the difference between the skirl of the pipes and the bells and whistles on Mum's respirator. No small task when a room is so stuffed with visitors, the nurses could hardly get in! Mum was up in her chair for most of the daylight hours on Friday wearing her Robertson Tartan scarf and a new Celtic pin (from one of the nurses) with her red sports suit.

Friends and family brought shortbread and Isabel's room was decorated with Scottish posters, calendars and tea towels of Scottish recipes, sheep, highland cows and Robbie Burns' poetry.  Nurses hauled in extra chairs and a love-seat and Mum sat in the circle asking questions about her friends with her letter-board.  A collection of ginger-haired wigs with plaid Scottish tams added to the fun.

Over 20 staff and visitors had a lesson in certain aspects of Scottish culture ~ and a few of us are taking several days to recover!

During a quieter time on Saturday,  Mum used a number board to tell us the phone number of a friend that she wanted to call.  She has not dialled this number for six months. For those of us who can hardly recall our own phone numbers, we continue to be grateful for her keen memory!

There were many words of Burns' shared on Friday.  And just for "old times' sake":

"Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne."

In gratitude for all of "the cups o' kindness"  that have been shared with us this week including the phone and e-mail greetings for Robbie Burns' Day. 

Thank you!

Cups o' Kindness

Hello All

Isabel continues to uphold her reputation as "Party Gal" on 6F.  January 25 ~ Robbie Burns' Day ~ was a very full day!

Her visitors included among others ~ her three daughters; her Scottish cousin; a niece, grand-niece, and great grand-niece; and several friends from home including three friends with whom she has traditionally celebrated Burns' Night.

Her doctor (who just happened to be in the room at the time) welcomed in a steaming haggis that had travelled two hours from Yorkton. It was carried in by a kilt-wearing Scot who delivered Burns' "Address to the Haggis". The first few lines are loosely translated as: 

"Fair is your honest happy face

Great chieftain of the pudding race

Above them all you take your place... "

In true Canadian style, two visitors who tried haggis for the first time declared the mix of ground meat, pinhead oatmeal and spices to be rather like "a delectable Scottish Ukrainian cabbage roll"!

Mum requested that we play bagpipe and drum music all day.  The nurses had to quickly learn the difference between the skirl of the pipes and the bells and whistles on Mum's respirator. No small task when a room is so stuffed with visitors, the nurses could hardly get in! Mum was up in her chair for most of the daylight hours on Friday wearing her Robertson Tartan scarf and a new Celtic pin (from one of the nurses) with her red sports suit.

Friends and family brought shortbread and Isabel's room was decorated with Scottish posters, calendars and tea towels of Scottish recipes, sheep, highland cows and Robbie Burns' poetry.  Nurses hauled in extra chairs and a love-seat and Mum sat in the circle asking questions about her friends with her letter-board.  A collection of ginger-haired wigs with plaid Scottish tams added to the fun.

Over 20 staff and visitors had a lesson in certain aspects of Scottish culture ~ and a few of us are taking several days to recover!

During a quieter time on Saturday,  Mum used a number board to tell us the phone number of a friend that wanted to call.  She has not dialled this number for six months. For those of us who can hardly recall our own phone numbers, we continue to be grateful for her keen memory!

There were many words of Burns' shared on Friday.  And just for "old times' sake":

"Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne."

In gratitude for all of "the cups o' kindness"  that have been shared with us this week including the phone and e-mail greetings for Robbie Burns' Day. 

Thank you!

A Room With A View

When you need to make the hospital your home for awhile, it is good news if you can move to the penthouse suite!

Isabel has moved to a large room with two picture windows overlooking Regina.  The move to this room has been something that we hoped would happen for a long while.  We are all pleased that Cousin Joy was on hand to help with the move that suddenly occurred one afternoon last week.  Imagine the parade of Isabel and her entourage -- bed, wheelchair, visitors' chairs, respirator, side tables, greeting cards on long cords, artwork from the walls, photographs, visitors' book and chocolates, clothes, lamps, clock.....

Mum's room is still on 6F (sixth floor) and only 3 doors from her previous room so her staff remain the same.  It took awhile to settle in, but oh, how lovely it is to have hangers for one's clothes, more space for visitors, and windows to watch the prairie sky. Mum and her visitors are now able to watch daylight come and night fall through two large windows.

Cousin Joy shared three Celtic House Blessings with Mum in her new digs on her first full day in residence.  Here is one of them:

Wishing you always; 

walls for the wind, 

& a roof for the rain, 

tea beside the fire, 

& the love & laughter of those you hold dear. 

Isabel continues to have increasing time sitting in her wheelchair each week with energy to enjoy her visitors.  Her flexibility in her contractured left hand has gradually increased in such a way that she can slowly but more easily use the narrow end of a wooden spoon to spell out words on her letter-board.  We are all learning lip-reading while Mum delivers full sentences a mile-a-minute and leaves us in the dust.  We have to persuade her to say single words and phrases.

Mum's quick delivery of a kick in the derriere to an inattentive daughter whose back was turned is proof that her sense of humour is intact and some of her physical strength is returning.

Plans continue for the Robbie Burns' party this week! Stay tuned!  Thank you for all the offers of haggis that have come our way!

A Refreshing Breath of Scottish Air

As a first generation Scottish Canadian, Isabel has celebrated Robbie Burns' Day (January 25) for many years and in a variety of ways by attending Burns' Suppers and listening to Scottish music and poetry. Robbie Burns (1759-1796) is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and many of us have sung his familiar Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve or read his poetry in school.

Isabel has had her own Scottish celebration this past week with the arrival of her second cousin Joy Blakeney from Argyll on the west coast of the Scottish highlands.  Joy and Mum will hang out together for several days each week for the next month.

Joy is a recently retired Occupational Therapist who is no stranger to Saskatchewan.  She has visited here many times over the last 40 years ~ but never in January! Joy had driven the combine and grain truck, cooked harvest meals, and provided support and care to family members. We are looking forward to Joy's companionship and medical skills over the next month.   Joy with camera in hand is looking forward to exploring Saskatchewan on the days that she is not with Mum.  The hoarfrost this month has been picture perfect and we have not yet experienced an old-style January deep freeze.

The staff on 6F are wondering when the Scottish parties in Mum's room will begin.  Mum and Joy and crew are planning a party for January 25 (Robbie Burns' Day). When one of Mum's nurses met Joy on her first day here,  she told Joy that she knew a bagpiper that could come play for the party!  We are not sure what management on 6F would say to this offer!  More than once we have had to close the doors of Mum's room because of loud party noise or boisterous phone calls on Mum's speaker phone. We are not quite ready for an eviction notice!

We will keep you posted as the month progresses.  RIght now, we are searching for appropriate Scottish decorations and a haggis --  or failing that, some good Scottish shortbread!

Isabel has had another good week of being up in her wheelchair most of the day ready to welcome her physiotherapists and anyone else who may walk by the door.

With thanks for your ongoing care,

The Social Convenors

Epiphany Light

Hello Family and Friends

Isabel has had a great holiday and birthday season as we now enter the season of Epiphany and increasing light. Mum's health has been consistently stable the last few weeks.   She has been sitting up between 3-5 hours each day enjoying new clothes, jewellery and CDs.  The early days of January are a wonderful time to savour friends and family with the rereading of Christmas and birthday greetings.  Thanks to all of you who have written news of your lives and HOPE to Mum.

LIGHT and HOPE came into Mum's room in two special ways this week. 

Another West Nile Virus Neurological Syndrome patient who had been on the same respiratory unit as Mum for nearly three months came to visit Mum this week to share her own journey of HOPE.  Although never as ill as Mum, and with different symptoms of WNVNS that did not compromise her muscular system in the same way, Mum's visitor has had her own very hard rough journey on the West Nile Road.  Mum's response to the visit was to recommit to doing her exercises with physiotherapist and family help, and on her own.  We know that Mum's determination will take her as far as her physical strength allows her.

Friends of Mum sent a book for her birthday titled: The Silver Book of Hope.  It contains over 40 quotations about searching for and finding HOPE and LIGHT in our lives.  Here is a sample:

An optimistic outlook may not speed your journey,

but it does improve the scenery along the way.

Hope springs eternal

like a well from deep inside us,

moving us into the light

where love can guide us.

Mum lives with that deep well inside of her that is sustained through her connection with the love of her wide community of which you are a part. 

A big part of Mum's day is preparation for visitors and inquiring about the next week.  Who is coming when?

Several of you have inquired recently about visiting or phoning Mum.  YES, Isabel is welcoming visitors every day.  It is helpful to her if you can give us a "heads up" when you are coming so that she can anticipate your visit.  You can do that by phoning Catherine at: 306-270-6394 or e-mailing <catherine.barnsley@usask.ca>

Phone messages can be left at:  306-333-4805.  Isabel has a speaker phone in her room so is easily able to hear your messages when we retrieve them.  The familiar voices of friends and family are an important part of neurological healing.

Thank you for your care and the LIGHT and HOPE that you bring into our lives,

Janet, Nancy, and Catherine