Monday, January 18, 2010

Getting lucky without playing the lottery!


UPDATE: My mother-in-law passed away this afternoon about 5:40. Rest in peace, dear.

This is a repost, complete with previous comments, from almost a year ago exactly.

Picking a nursing home for a loved one is hard work.

After sorting through government ratings, touring affordable - and unaffordable - residences, and asking strangers on every street corner, IT Guy and I finally relied on our own experience.

Neither one of us have personally needed a similar facility, but after my mother fell and suffered severe brain damage several years ago, we placed her in a local Methodist home called Crestview.

IT Guy and I had inquired about availability at Crestview during the course of M-I-L’s hospital stay and rehabilitation. Availability in a good nursing home is just another way of getting lucky, only without buying a lottery ticket.

The day before M-I-L was scheduled to leave rehab, a bed at Crestview opened up, so to speak. Since IT Guy had a meeting, I escorted M-I-L to her new home.

It was lunchtime when we arrived. I asked our escorts if she could see her room before she ate. She was worried and I wanted her to be able to enjoy her meal and start the whole experience off on a good note, without reservations about where she would be sleeping that night.

Of course, they said, as they pushed her down the hall, me faithfully following behind the wheelchair. I’d been down this hall many times, daily, in fact, for a full year.

We turned left in front of the dining hall. I waved at several people I’d known during my Mother’s stay. Not that they would remember me, but I remembered them.

By the time our little parade got halfway down the hall, willies started wiggling up my spine. It was all too familiar. I knew the people who lived in the rest of the rooms in this wing. I’d just waved to some of them.

The CNA kept pushing my M-I-L and I kept following, until there was only one room left.

My mother’s old room.

And that’s where we turned, right into my Mother’s old room. Right up to her old bed. Right across from her old roommate.

The only available bed at Crestview was my mother’s old bed. To me, it was like going home.


24 comments:

  1. Cher that's amazing! Your M-I-L got a special place. I'm sure the Lord kept that spot open just for her.
    -FringeGirl

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  2. Amazing indeed! Either it's the most extraordinary of coincidences or God's hand is in it. :-)

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  3. I hope that it eased your M-I-L's mind a bit as well. I imagine the change to be difficult for her. She's lucky to have you in her life!

    And, no, I hadn't heard about the helicopter crash until your comment. I checked out the web articles. Unreal!

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  4. My heart almost skipped a beat reading your post. I think that it is almost like giving you a hug from your mom (spiritually of course). Hope your MIL is doing ok! Mine is 85...spunky as all get out ... living on her own in a mobile home in Florida.

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  5. Can't be easy at a time like this.

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  6. I hope all goes well for you MIL. It can't be an easy transition for her or y'all. I agree with Fringegirl-God created that opening for y'all. I don't hold with coincidences. Tn'T

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  7. That was definitely a God thing Cher. It's never easy when we have to put a love one in the hands of others for their care. We just have to let God take over and trust in Him that all is well.

    I had to do the same thing with my mother years ago. Take care.

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  8. Chill bumps. God is cool like that. Thanks for sharing. ~Mindy

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  9. Texas Woman: Coincidence? I think not! That must have been a bittersweet experience for you! It takes a loving daughter-in-law to handle this situation with such grace and love!

    Bless you!

    Malisa

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  10. What an amazing story, Cher. It sounds like she has the perfect place to stay.

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  11. Wow chills!!! Thats an amazing story. whats with the helicopter crash I guessed I missed that?
    Cheryl

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  12. God works in amazing ways! M.I.L. is in the perfect place.
    Joyce

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  13. Cheryl, A Black Hawk helicopter crashed on the campus of Texas A&M a couple of days ago, killing a second leuy on board. He and WhisperWoman both graduated from A&M. I was just FYIing her.

    The Texas Woman

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  14. It has to be God's hand, or I'd put it in his hands. Big Hug, PJ

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  15. Indeed God is showing you He knows of you and yours. I miss you.

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  16. Cher: I am sorry for your loss. Carol Bienski

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  17. Cher, I'm sorry. Your family will be in my prayers.
    -FringeGirl

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  18. I'm sorry for your loss, but looks like a hug of comfort for you and your MIL.

    We recently had to put my MIL in a nursing/Alz. facility. We know the pain, the worries and the logistics. It's tough.

    Good to find another Texas gal. Come by & visit when you have time... Vickie

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  19. Thinking about you and so sorry. Hope you are doing well. lauri@chippys

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  20. Sorry babe. When it rains it pours...my thoughts & prayers to you and your family.

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  21. Cher, Sorry , I think of you everyday when Sharon and I come to Bryan for her radiation and chemo. Praying for you and hope you can come thrifting with us after you both lick this terrible cancer.

    Love, Barbara

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  22. Hey Cher! Just stopping by to say hello. I hope you are getting better and getting stronger. You're an amazing woman and can't wait till you feel well enough to blog. My prayers and warm wishes are with you.

    -FringeGirl

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  23. Cher, I just came to check on you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

    robelyn

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  24. So sorry to hear about your mother in law--many who are getting involved in our event are doing so for a loved one who has passed away. Our thoughts are with you.

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