Oregon 2000 November
How was your visit? How was mom and dad's health?
Hi Mary, Carol & Tom,
Info on my visit to Oregon last week......
Overall conclusion -- Mom is better than she was a few weeks ago but she has definitely slowed down to another level. When I left, I felt very positive that I would see her again in the future. Her appreciation of Dad was very good to see & hear.
More details --
I've been tired so treated myself to a flight to Medford instead of driving (& it was discounted if traveling by Nov1). The one hour flight usually takes me 5 hours travel time due to going to San Francisco airport, waiting, etc. This trip took nineteen hours (yep 19!) due to weather related flight cancellations. It took four hours of footwork, inner debate & God's inspiration to decide to wait for the next available flight, stay the night at the airport (all hotels within an hour's drive were full) & discover a USO room (thanks to a sponsee's husband's mother who works for USO in Frankfurt, Germany & showed him where it was at the SF airport!). I would have slept on the floor or sitting up on a chair like hundreds (or thousands) of others did that night. Driving to Oregon was a tempting alternative but not a strong option since I didn't feel alert enough to be safe driving. Instead I had a lounge chair and blanket and slept for five hours in the USO lounge. Mom & Dad met me at the Medford airport and were amazed by the hundreds of people waiting for delayed flights in & out. I guess there's usually just a handful of people at the Medford airport. This weekend we travelers felt like a herd of cattle bonding together with a common cause...met quite a few interesting and nice people.
After a few hour nap on Thursday Oct 26 I accompanied Mom to here respiratory evaluation for future classes & one-on-one training to help her live better with her current conditions -- which are CHF (congestive heart failure) and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (lungs don't work correctly). The lady (respiratory therapist?) was warm and bonded with Mom very nicely - took about two hours with many questions to evaluate her quality of life now & be able to compare the results with a similar evaluation in a few months after the classes & training. Mom also was monitored while she walked in a hallway for six minutes. Mom was told to walk at her own pace which includes holding still or sitting down when you're tired. Mom tried walking at her old pace (in my opinion) and only lasted one and a half minutes before she sat down gasping for air & crying from frustration. Her oxygen level is excellent - her lungs/heart just can't process it.
Love,
Diane