How we live and how we die.

So, have you heard the story about the American Indians, who, when they were ready to die, would just walk out into the woods, lay down and offer up their spirit?  They passed on their own terms and did not let their body dictate how they would live.  I wonder if my Mom is doing that?  Except she could never just walk out into the woods and die - not without any fanfare and nashing of teeth!  No, no - she would need lots of nashing, some tearing of hair and plenty of wailing.  Then there's just that small issue of - she is the one who is going thro all the physical agony - but she certainly has everyone's attention!

If you haven't been on my Facebook, or haven't answered my numerous phone calls...you may not know that my Mom fell and broke her hip on Friday morning.  My plan had been to get on a plane and fly home, but instead I spent 8+ hours in an ER and then the specialty hospital that she was transferred to...and, Mom, being Mom, now has her own personal, hospital aide, to keep her from pulling out her catheter, her IV, and taking off her hospital gown.  Again, she certainly has everyone's attention.

The deal is - she says she was helping some gentleman in her facility...who was far older than her, (grin)scared and needing her help, when she hurt her leg.  She had to have twisted in some way, b/c she has a spiral fracture, down the full length of her right femur.  She is going to have a complete revision of her hip replacement and it is a very serious surgery.  Hours of surgery, lots of blood loss, and just very traumatic for someone who is 90 years old.  In fact, one doctor told us she only had a 50% chance of surviving the surgery- but what do doctors know?  We get a different story from every doctor we talk to...it's like they're "practicing" medicine or something...rather than playing God.  (I digress and give you a commercial break of my personal opinion...like a blog is something other than a personal opinion!:)

I can only tell you that I am so sad that my Mom has done this, and now has to go through such a horrendous ordeal.  Rehab is 2-4 weeks, and will be worse than her original hip replacement.  She is not in her right mind, so explaining why she needs to get up and try to walk, when it hurts like a spike being driven thro your leg...is not going to be easy.  And she may very well refuse, which means she will never walk again.  but we must remember that my mother is a strong, "I'll prove you wrong" woman.  John says she may out-live us all.  Of course, we all may commit suicide b/c we just can't take any more of her drama!  But who knows... actually, the only thing I know, is that she will surprise us...one way or the other.