The hardest week in Alaska

I should have known that if I posted nothing was happening in our world, something always does.
The week started out as any normal week.I often call my mom on Monday's on my way to work just to check in.On this morning, she did not answer.Not to worry I am sure she is busy and will call back. I called again at lunch and STILL no answer. Weird...I try again on my way home and no answer. I now decided to call my father who is a man of many words...not. He answers and is calm about the whole none answering thing.I do not feel a sense of calm.I demand an answer.Come to find out my mother is in the hospital.Panic now sets in. My mom is a healthy woman and I do not recall anytime that we have ever had to take her to the hospital for an emergency in 39 years.
Monday morning my mom woke up in sever pain in her right hand and foot. She has been a bit under the weather for about 3 weeks. It started with a blocked saliva duct and earache that antibiotics were given for.BUT, seems mother did not take the whole Rx until they were gone (Let this be a lesson to us all)She was admitted and they started to run tests. Nothing was found until Wednesday. She was infected with a very serious infection called C-Def. It is common in older people in hospitals or nursing facilities.She got it from taking antibiotics.It is very serious and life threatening.Not only has the C-Def attacked her body, come to find out it had attached to her muscles causing rheumatoid arthritis...thus the pain.By Thursday, she had had it. Too many needles and the pain was too much.They started a steroid and anti-inflammatory and like a gift from heaven, the pain was gone.At last she sounded like herself and I could calm down.I was on the next flight out Friday night but with her improvement, I did not come home.She went home yesterday and I am so pleased.She has several weeks of recovery ahead of her and more tests to see what the damage will be long term. I am so Thankful for her recovery. The thought of being on this earth without my mom is something I cannot even imagine. Worst yet, I was here in Alaska away from her when she needed me the most.Helpless is a good word for the day.All I wanted to do was come home and she kept telling me no. I was lucky to have family and friends keeping me up with all the situations, but it is not the same.
As of today, she sounds like mom and is home resting.She will need to take more time off from work, but they are all very supportive and her job is safe.My lesson in all this is never take advantage of the people you love and need in your life....they may not always be there. This is the first real scare I have had with my mom and I will prefer not to have anymore. I know that life does end for us all, but I think I would like it on my terms. :) So,with Thanksgiving week starting, I have so many things to be Thankful for, but I have to say right now...it's my mom and the fact that I can pick up the phone and there she is...when she answers.
Lots of love!
The Eskimo's