Ruth has enjoyed over 5 years at Westwing Place in DeWitt, Iowa. During those 5 years, she progressed from using her walker to make the trek to the dining room 3 times a day to using her wheelchair 3 times a day.
Still able to move on her own every day was enjoyed by watching the birds and squirrels feasting on the bird feeder that at times was very hard to keep filled. Reading the newspaper from front to back and enjoying TV reruns were enjoyable activities.
On Friday November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving, Ruth fell in her room at West Wing. During that fall she broke and fractured her ankle. By the end of that night she had undergone surgery at Genesis East to put the ankle back together with screws, plates and other assorted hardware. She would have to weaar a boot for about 6 - 8 weeks with no weight bearing during that time.
She was admitted to Genesis East to monitor her condition. Over the next few days her condition started to change. Not due to the ankle, but other effects from surgery, anasthesia, a long history of breathing issues and general aging. She is 88 years old.
Over the next 12 days, there were stays on the Orthopaedic floor, Intensive care with a pulse rate of 150 + for 24 + hours and the cardiac floor after that.
After that stay she was sent back to WestWing where the staff made changes to her room so she could be lifted from her bed to a mobile recliner that was used to get her to meals in the dining room. So life went back to some normality.
However, she had lost her desire for her daily routines and mostly spent the days in her bed sleeping, watching the birds and squirrels and visiting with family. She was fortunate to have grandson and fiance Gretchen visit from California for almost a week. Grandaughter Chelsey visited before she moved to Denver. Grandsons Keegan on break from Iowa State and Garrett who lives in the area also stopped in.
And then Dean came back for the Christmas break. That was a welcome visit daily.
Then on Friday December 28, we got a call from WestWing. They had done a chest X-Ray due to her diminished breathing in the last few days. The X-Ray showed the left lung upper lobe had collapsed and there was pnuemonia in the lower lobe. So that night she was transported back to Genesis east and was admitted to the pulmonary/medical floor. Over the next week with many antibiotics and breathing treatment, no significant progress was made. More aggressive measures were discussed and it was decided the risks outweighed the potential benefit.
On January 5th, she was transported to the Carissa Cooke Hospice House in Davenport. This is a wonderful facility that cares for residents preparing for end of life. Their goal is 100% comfort.
Ruth is awake throughout the day but stays in bed enjoys visits. She still knows all who come to see her but her memory has deteriorated, so we discuss the same things multiple times on occasions.
We got word yesterday that Mom will probably be returning to Westwing next week. Her condition is neither improving nor deteriorating.
Today, I came in and learned she had a bad night with anxiety, some itching and some pain. The wonderful staff here are concerned that she would be returned to Westwing. But, the decisions are made with the information on the charts and observations by staff. So, it is not always indicative of the patients condition.
Fortunately, her old room at Westwing is open and available for her.
We will just have to take it day by day and respond d accordingly.
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