Monday December 27, 2021
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
Shortly after my Mom turned 92 this past April, she fell and fractured her left femur. Before her fall my Mom used either a cane/ walker or rollator to get around. Now she had to learn to walk again and required a wheelchair to get around.
While she was in Rehab, my three sisters and I rotated days to visit her, drop off her mail, pick up her dirty clothes and drop off clean clothes, bring fresh flowers and fruit. Each of us was there at least once a week and often twice. Because of a staff shortage, after signing in and going through the Covid-19 questionnaire/protocols, we would go up to her floor via the elevator (use of the stairs required badge access), go to her room, and weather permitting, would take her outside. She always insisted upon introducing us to any and all staff members – the Doctor, the nurses, aides, therapists, housekeepers, kitchen staff and other rehab patients. She knew everyone’s name and would routinely strike up conversations finding out what she could about them. I was introduced multiple times to the same folks and actually found this habit of hers quite annoying. I was there to see her and make sure she was okay, not to chitchat. But knowing my mother, I was not rude and worked hard to remember names and would politely reply – I certainly didn’t want to incur her wrath because of bad manners.
After 100 days, a date for Mom to go home was put on the calendar. She had learned how to maneuver in her wheelchair, getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom without help, learning how to stand and walk again. Mom was so excited to be going back to her own apartment and be with her friends.
Several days prior to her release date, my sisters and I had started to take things back to her apartment, extra clothes, the reading materials and other items she had accumulated to make her room seem more homey. The day before she was supposed to go home, she was diagnosed with Covid-19 – a breakthrough case (mom was fully vaccinated).
She was taken to another part of the facility, put into an empty room with the clothes she had been wearing since the previous day (she was supposed to be given a shower and had her hair washed that morning) with her electronics (cell phone, Chromebook and iPad) and left there in a broken wheelchair to be quarantined for 10 days. All of her belongings, clothes and toiletries were left in her room. None of us were informed about these conditions.
Around the same time Mom was taken into the quarantine room, I was notified about Mom and that her release date was on hold. I let my siblings know and tried to call Mom. She wouldn’t answer the phone. So my siblings, their spouses and her six grandchildren tried calling, emailing and texting with no answer or response from Mom.
The next day, her original release date, I called Mom and she answered. I told her that I was going to come as originally planned and I would bring her clean clothes with me. That’s when she told me about the broken wheelchair (she was stuck in it and had slept in it, no pillow or blanket) and because she couldn’t get to the bathroom, she had had an accident and had to throw her pants away. And she had nothing to clean herself. Between the two of us, we came up with a list of things she would need (clothes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, reading materials) and I would drop off for her.
As I processed the conditions that Mom was living under, I realized that I didn’t have 10 days of clothes or supplies for her. And how was I going to get her dirty clothes from her? She was quarantined and I wasn’t allowed in the building. I felt a sense of panic and began to pray to God. How was I going to get her dirty clothes? Please God help me, help my Mom.
The ride to Mom takes me an hour and 15 minutes. The entire time, I’m praying to God to help me come up with a plan. Once I’m in the building, do I rush past the front deck and pray I can get on the elevator to her floor without being stopped? Do I call Mom and ask her to throw her dirty clothes out the window? Wait, that won’t work. She is trapped in a wheelchair. God, please help me, I really need a plan, something that will work.
I prayed the whole drive and by the time I arrived at her facility I was no closer to a workable plan. I entered the lobby with three bags of supplies for her. I told the receptionist who I was and why I was there. I asked if I was allowed to go up to her room and pick up her dirty clothes and drop off the items I had brought. (I figured it was worth a try). The receptionist was so sorry but no that wasn’t possible, the building was on lockdown (Mom was one of 6 folks on her floor that had been diagnosed the previous day).
As despair set in, one of the aides from Mom’s floor came walking into the Lobby and greeted me by name (dang, what was her name and I didn’t really recognize her) but she recognized me. I told her I was there to drop off things for Mom and get her dirty clothes. She told me that she’d make sure Mom got I what I had brought and no she couldn’t give me Mom’s dirty clothes. But would it be okay if the laundry there washed her clothes?
A sense of relief washed over me and I realized that God had heard my prayers and answered them.
The whole ride home, I thanked God for providing a solution.
Joan Whitley
