Babysitting Required

My Mom’s surgery went well… aside from being told that her boney structure is very small, requiring small replacement parts, and subsequently resulting in a less stable joint than if the joint was comprised of a larger ball and socket. She went home the evening after her surgery after demonstrating the ability to get out of bed properly, walk, and go up and down a step. Home heath was set up for a physical therapy appointment to assess home safety.

She has been home 3+ days at this point.  I returned to my life-as-it-were, complete with an ankle sprain (BoBo), ear infection (Ronin), and the usual work frustrations. I checked in regularly and, knowing my Favorite Brother and Lil Sis were visiting, did my best to not interfere anymore than that.

Then today, I learned that the Physical Therapist didn’t come on Thursday. In fact, they aren’t planning to visit until NEXT FRIDAY! Needless to say, I am furious. If hospitals are going to push their patients out this quickly, they’d better insure that they remain free of complications. This home health agency is the same one that told me that everyone was in a two hour meeting, therefore unable to help me, when I called (a 2^nd time) to check on why my request for better pain control for my dying husband had not been attended to. It took me reading the sign they’d placed on my refrigerator regarding the services they promised of 24 hour care and demanding that they get someone on the phone within 5 minutes to help the receptionist better understand her priorities.

Given my mom seems to be doing okay, I will not make a repeat performance today. Her pain is under control (2-4 on a scale of 0-10) and is doing her post operative exercises independently and hopefully correctly.  Instead, I will head over to set eyes on her myself.  I have also instructed my mom to report the incident to her surgeon so that he is made aware that his discharge care was not carried out per his orders.

Meanwhile, back at the office, I’m on the verge of tears having this memory unearthed from my memory banks. And the document which I drafted back in October, updated and sent out AGAIN yesterday with a request for feedback prior to a 2pm meeting still has not received review comments. I sent out a reminder that I expected comments from everyone before today’s meeting.  It’s now 11am and I still have not received anything. Given the lack of follow up, I’d love to cancel the meeting and leave her to see my mom. Instead, I need to hold a meeting so that everyone can read the document together and give the feedback needed for finalization. We are all grownups. Why do I have to babysit?