THE SHOE IS DANGLING For anyone who has a history of medical issues, you will understand what i mean. If you are lucky enough to be healthy, have healthy children, friends, and family, you are truly blessed. Well, at least for now. But, if you are like the rest of us reading or writing this blog from the bathroom floor, you live in a world that has a creeping thought in the back of your mind, When is the shoe going to drop? It just seems inevitable that at some time, especially when you least expect it, bamm, everything stable in life changes. Now, Sam has this bowel issue that requires an hour long enema everyday. Yes it keeps him happy and out of pain, and yes, it is driving me nuts. If i drank, i would be at AA meetings. But, anytime there is a slight deviation in his bowel behavior, i get worried. Joe says relax. Joe doesnt do any of the medical care. I relax when there are no abnormalities going on. Sam has been doing some strange things lately. I am not sure if he has a medical issue or if its part of being down syndrome, or if its a shoe about to hit the floor. it would help if he would talk. But, he is 15 now and i am getting the Tude of a 15 year older. I am the best person one minute to him, and then for the next hour, i stink. And Paul never treated me this way so i am not sure how to deal with it. i generally dont feed into it. But, being the mom of a medically frail child, is he telling me more? and that my friends is where the questions that keep you awake at night, or the stress that makes your hair fall out all start. Sam does something called Keyloiding. Its his scar tissue from any surgery, he just keeps growing it over and over. The hole where his tube goes in each day had been getting smaller, so i put a night time plug in that keeps the hole open. But after a year of that, the tube tunnel, for lack of the professional term, started to close. i have left the tube in now for 9 months. I contacted his surgeon in Ohio about another option and i have an appointment at Cooper Hospital in 2 weeks. If this is a feasible option, i may be worry free for 9 months which would make Sam not sense my apprehension and be happier too. Fingers crossed. I decided to go local because who am i kidding, if something happened to me, no one is taking Sam to Ohio for care. And if something happened to me, this procedure would buy Joe months of time to figure life out. In the meantime, Sam has been totally potty trained for years. I have no idea how that happened since I never taught him or Paul. Sam must of learned by peeing in the shower, then one day decided to try the toliet. Heck, he may of tried the sink but i dont want to think about that. And, our dog trained Paul. So never ask me to potty train your child. I am clueless. But Sam has been having pee accidents. In one case, i thought he was turning into a cat, he peed in my shoe. Then in a drawer, on a bed, and on an ottoman. It smells like i clean houses for a living here. the ammonia smell is horrid. Oh yeah, i do clean houses, but i dont use ammonia. So i tried for a week to catch his urine in a cup for a culture. Well, have you ever tried to catch a teenage boy with down syndrome, urine in a cup? i had better luck catching big foot. But today i lucked out. And, i pray they find something that may make his other problems disappear. He is such a sweet child normally. And with a child that is non verbal, it really is a guessing game all the time. But, my mommy feeling is there may be more here than a urine infection and i am starting to get concerned. I ask you to keep my boy in your prayers. And, the thing that stinks is whenever Paul has had something really big,like looking at high schools, i was in ohio. or now looking at colleges, we may have a underlying issue rear its head. There is such guilt being in the hospital with one child, or the bathroom, and not having the same time with your other children.So, if you can, please add Paul to the list. You see, my Paul will be something really special in life. He is the most important person in my life. He has learned so much living in our home with Sam, that he will make a difference in the world. He just may not know that he is doing so. To some people, kindness comes so naturally and they have no idea of the impression they leave on others. I think Paul is like that. I know that Sam is like that. And both boys are my meaning to live. They give me such pleasure and purpose. So tonight, when you lay your head down on your bed, think of all of your blessings. then think of all of the people in your life who are not as fortunate as you and I, and if you believe, Thank God for your gifts. And, if you are as lucky as me, also thank your own Mom. Love you Joan Dougherty. FTBF
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 23:18:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015