As most of you know, my mom has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for roughly 30 years and, up until recently, was able to manage living independently during the day while my dad works (granted, she's taken some pretty scary falls over the years). Within the past few months, however, it has become clear that this is no longer an option. Mom had a few pretty scary falls during the summer and into the early fall and has reached a point in her journey with MS to where she is no longer able to bear weight on her legs. She has very little muscle mass, is incredibly weak (physically) and has no functionality in her right limbs. We, as a family, decided that intervention was mandatory and we took her in to the Maple Grove Hospital at the beginning of October.
Prior to this, my brother (Mark) and I were taking turns caring for her during the day, while I began the arduous journey of looking into more long-term options. Thankfully, I was able to take a leave of absence at work so I could really focus on getting her the care she needs. During the time we were caring for her, we realized that her right shoulder appeared to be dislocated and, since mom has minimal feeling in her right side, she was unable to explain when or how that happened. She had previously broken her right humerus during a fall several years ago which required a pretty major surgery and subsequent stay in a transitional care facility.
During her time in the Maple Grove Hospital, x-rays revealed that her right shoulder was not only dislocated, but she had two fractures in her humerus and the hardware placed during her previous surgery had broken, as well. Unfortunately, the bone had already began to heal and, considering she is not a candidate for surgery in her current state, there is nothing that can be done. We also discovered during this time that she was/is a bit malnourished, has lost quite a bit of weight, and had a UTI that had been left untreated for who knows how long.
After a short stint in the hospital, Mom was discharged to a Transitional Care Unit (TCU) where she has been staying for the past 5 weeks. While she was able to make some gains in Physical Therapy, it has been determined that this is her new "baseline," which means that she requires a level of care that we are unable to provide at home, even with PCA services.
Her medical insurance stopped covering her stay at the TCU on 11/13/23 and she is currently there under "Medical Assistance Pending" status. I have been working tirelessly to obtain orders for all of the medical equipment she needs and compile documents to ensure that her MA Application gets approved. For those who have been fortunate enough to never have to go through this process, let me just say... it's extraordinarily frustrating, time consuming and, most of all, mentally draining (don't get me started on the healthcare system in this country). Lots of red tape and road blocks at every turn,.
We are currently awaiting a MN Choices assessment and trying to determine the level of care Mom will need going forward. This is truly a heartbreaking situation for our family.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and, thank you, in advance, for any comments or well-wishes sent my mom's way. She could really benefit from all the love and support you have to offer.
We have exciting news for those who are following my mom's journey!
Finally, after three long months, mom's Medical Assistance has been approved and we have secured placement in an Assisted Living Community with 24-hour Skilled Nursing services! Mom will be moving out of Good Samaritan's Transitional Care Unit on Tuesday, February 6th and into her new home, a lovely community, in northern Brooklyn Park.
This has been a long road filled with endless paperwork, frustration, "red tape," hundreds (if not, thousands) of phone calls & emails and now, finally, excitement. If you know, you know. We still have some loose ends to tie up but, by next week, mom will be settled into her brand new space and, most importantly, getting the care and support she needs.
This is a huge transition and, while exciting, moving to a new place after living, independently, in the same house for 35 years can be quite unsettling. As you can imagine, Mom is definitely missing her home and, of course, her beloved dog and best friend, Bailey. That being said, I'd love to put together a House Warming gift basket to have ready upon her arrival (Shhh! It's a surprise). If you'd like to send a card and/or donate to help me make mom's new home as cozy and welcoming as possible, please reach out to me privately (lisamariecheney@gmail.com or on Facebook Messenger).
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