24 February 2014: Monday ... brilliant sunrise, reflections on blinds in the addition ... Alice Herz-Sommer, 110, has died (extraordinary life) ... Helena from Brighton, England leads BodyPump ... Yaina (Chee-ya-nah), Hospice CNA, has come to care for mom as Skeesha is out ...

      

Alice Herz-Sommer: pianist and oldest known Holocaust survivor
dies aged 110
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/alice-herz-sommer-holocaust-survivor-dies

Life moves forward. Had a great BodyPump with an excellent fitness instructor, Helena (Hah-LAY-nah), who I didn't feel was from Australia with her accent but was unsure. Asked at the conclusion of the workout and she answered English from the south, along the shore, Brighton, where the famed Brighton Beach is located. 

5 February 2014: Wednesday ... found the other iPad charger in the living room at the end of the couch (it'd been weeks lost) ... visits from Skeesha and Beth today from Delaware Hospice ... great BodyPump w/Carla (who scowled at the sound system to get it to work) ...

LOST AND FOUND: Sometimes they just show up because you run into them again. Such was the case with my iPhone and iPad charger, which I had two of and then managed to misplace one of them and consequently, had to charge each item separately. There is something greater in significance to finding something that you've given up on for lost. There is the immediate relief and joy at finding it, but why did you give up on it in the first place. Was there no search process that covered all the bases, thoroughly? Well, when I saw the charger on the arm of the sofa under the Ubeda painting in the living room, closest to the lamp, I thought: It's been there for weeks and I have not noticed it. What is the reason it stayed there for weeks, lost in my estimation? Did I not water the plant my father treasured, a gift from Sydney Steele, did I not vacuum or dust? Obviously not, for there it was, unperturbed, untouched for days upon days. Will I learn from this? Probably not, I haven't in the past, and at the present time, the same urgings and desires run through me that are purposeless and hurtful. Discipline is not for the squeamish.

MOM SAYS I'M NOT FEELING WELL: That is often the refrain from mom when I inform her that Skeesha Johnson is coming. Well, I pooh-pooh it because she gets well, quickly, and enjoys the attention and the conversation with her Delaware Hospice contingent as was the case today in spades. The delightful young mother and CNA, born in Jamaica (?) or at least has a Jamaican father, who died recently and she went to the island nation for his interment, does her work with joy and competence. Mom just adores her and Skeesha seems to like mom, too. It's a nice pairing.

Later, Beth Kincaid, RN, showed up and we worked to clear up the medicine needs. We are short of Xanax, Tamazepam, and Hydrocodone, all essential to the well-being of mom, especially the anti-anxiety drug Alprazolam, which she did without this evening because the drug order did not arrive as Beth estimated (it came the next day, first the hydrocodone and then, still waiting at 1:34 p.m., the Xanax and Tamazepam), but she is a careful and deliberative health care provider and has mom's best interests at heart.

GREAT BODYPUMP WITH CARLA: One of only two men in the class, Carla, our instructor, feisty and fit and enthusiastic, really put together a great workout. She had some difficulty with the sound system and seemed to rustle it into order by looking up at the speaker in the ceiling and scowling as she pressed the buttons to start the bouncy, hip-hop music. One of the participants, Diana, a young mother with two pre-teen daughters, remembered my name from the yoga class yesterday where our instructor, Christine, led us into a circle and played a naming game. It worked for her. I remembered that there was some slight confusion over her name as she was initially called Diane instead of Diana. Regardless, it was a delightful interchange. She is a EMT studying to be a nurse now that her children are both in class. I asked where she knew Kristen, who works at the front desk of "Y" and is also studying to be an RN at Del Tech, where she is going. She did not recognized the name but was impressed that she was set to graduate in May. Believe she has just started the program, perhaps.

10 January 2014: Friday ... sleety, slippery this morning as I let Dancer out ... will warm up to low 40s ... omelette maker in the making ... Skeesha, Hospice CNA, arrives ...

The day is grey and sleety and slippery as I walk outside, in my dad's slippers, to give Dancer her morning bathroom break. It is after 7, so the sun is up but it is a bit dismal. Today is Jean Rahaim's 58th birthday and I did wish her wonderful one on Facebook.

It is the day that Skeesha, a CNA from Delaware Hospice, arrived in the early afternoon and got acquainted with mom almost instantaneously and she is bathing her as I type this and there is a total comfort factor. Mom is at ease and loves the physical attention from a highly skilled person, who went straight to the closet and found what she needed. I remember her from her stopping by to deliver some breathing supplies for dad maybe two months ago. She was waiting in the driveway in the dimming light, so patient as I arrived after a trip to Pathmark, I believe, but it was a serendipitous arrival and allowed me to get a vital item for dad's oxygenator. She is a delightful person. 

I asked to take a picture of the two of them and got this picture on the bed and sent it to Doug. I did ask beforehand and Skeesha was more than willing. Mom was happy in this photo even though she looks a bit glum. She was purty and smelling good, in fact, as I type this I can smell the aroma of bath powder wafting into the television room all the way down the hall and up the stairs. It is distinctive and appealing. On a sober note, Skeesha just lost her Jamaican father. She is one of 11 children, six of whom are full blood siblings. I don't believe her father ever married her mother. She has siblings in England where he lived for a time. They are working to ship the body to Jamaica and have the funeral there, although there will be a service here in Delaware. Skeesha is hoping to be able to make it down to the Caribbean nation with her two children.  

Am listening to, and getting a heads up on the concert tomorrow with Serafin Quartet, on the Mendelssohn Quartet No. 1, Opus 12 with the music being flashed up on the screen as the playing progresses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHgkyhh4S8I 

Felix Mendelssohn

Born: Feb­ru­a­ry 3, 1809, Ham­burg, Ger­ma­ny.

Died: No­vem­ber, 4, 1847, Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny.

Just finished 33 minute workout on the elliptical -- Octane Express -- and wound up short of 5 miles at 4.97 with an avg. heart rate of 125 and maximum of 150.

I really like this machine at the Western "Y". 

Listened to a tried and true sales spiel, once again, only this time it was refined for the digital age -- a conference call and a web presentation. Pretty slick. A smooth, continuous talking sales rep went on for over 20 minutes and then hit you with the amount that removing, in "perpetuity", the maintenance fees from our time shares would cost for our unit, which came to over $800 this year, would be over $4,000 dollars. A call afterward from a slick and oily friendly salesperson, Kathleen Nichols (310-584-8409), who represents the company Interval Relief, promised a lower price but I said no go currently and had to speak to my ex-. She put me on her calendar to call back in May. I said fine. 

While on the net, I got industrious and finally logged onto my Chase Amazon Visa credit card site and got dad's checking account configured for payment. First had to remember the login -- it was in my Delicious bookmarking web site (a great site, by the way, they even have an overview of every site that I bookmarked over 2013 ... have not checked it entirely yet but could be enlightening and refreshing, memory wise) -- and then paid my bill, which included the aforementioned maintenance fees and the Nintendo Wii, for a total of over $1,100. Well, in the words of dad, it's paid for and I didn't delay any further. Good habits to remember from my dear father.

6 January 2014: Monday,

• I should be noting all the events of this important day for my mother. Have contacted her primary care physician, Dr. David Maged, and spoke to his triage nurse, Donna, who is so invested in her care and she will advise the doctor and have him call later about possible interventions to relieve her shortness of breath and more importantly, deal with her water retention.
• At this typing, Kim, the nurse who was on call over the night of dad's passing and who pronounced him later that afternoon (after just a few hours of sleep), is with her and has been so good. She is such a kind and empathetic person. Taken her BP and says her color is good. She is now attending a possible bed sore on her rear end (I did not want to be present), but more importantly, Kim brought up two critical needs that mom as agreed to. The first is a hospital bed, which she will order, and the second is a CNA, who can assist her in bathing, particularly in the bed, a skill set that I don't even claim to possess.
• I made this post just minutes earlier on Facebook concerning Kim's visit:
  
  
  "Sometimes you don't know where to turn. Mom's in hospice and has had a few rough days. I will forsake the details other than to say she does not have a terminal illness but has chronic health problems that necessitate her being on oxygen 24/7. She is in a delicate state. Well, once again, a savior arrived at our doorstep. She listened to her heart and lungs (clear), took her blood pressure (normal), recommended some steps in her care (both ok'ed by my mother -- a hospital bed and a CNA to help her with bathing), but most and supremely important to her bedraggled spirit was her special gift of time and sincere compassion. It is not easy to listen without giving off the feeling that one has to be somewhere else. As a third party, I listen to a remarkable dialogue between my mother, who I have known most of my life, and a young RN, who she has met her once before (she attended my father the morning of the day he died). This person, whose name is Kim, has gifted us this late morning with more than her time and her medical knowledge, for she left her patient, my mother, fortified in body and spirit.
  Thank you so much for this precious sharing."
• 
  
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  • Toni French, Teri Vertucci, Steve Mortenson and 64 others like this.
  • 

    Linda Lucero I am so glad you and your mother have the gift of Hospice. They are truly angels on earth as well as all the caregivers who treat people with compassion and respect.

    8 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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    Becky Peita Rudy I'm so sorry you're at this point in your life. It is hard to become a caregiver to someone who has always cared for you. My mom just passed away in June from dementia, among other things. Hospice was wonderful and definitely helped us as well as my mom say our final goodbyes. I assume you are no longer in the Augusta area?

    8 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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    Carol Seay Witzell This is lovely, Rudy...both of my parent's needed Hospice care...and I found them to be the most compassionate nurses and aids in the world! Not one single one; ever gave us pause...how lucky for both you and your mother will benefit greatly from this service!

    8 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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    Diane Redgate Glad to read your mother is receiving quality care. Best wishes to you both for a wonderful new year.

    8 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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    Kathleen Murray Okarski Glad to hear that your mom received such a person, the people that work in hospice are true angels, not only for the patient but their family as well. We will be in touch soon.

    7 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
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    Jan Muto Good karma. Glad to hear she is hanging in there!

    7 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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    Cindy Hanifee Jackson A compassionate hospice nurse is a blessing. We had to throw one out with my dad but the others were wonderful. Good luck

    7 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
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    Ruth Berry very sorry Rudy

    7 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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    Lori Jones You are fortunate that you have someone like her to be there. I know this must be very wearing emotionally for you. Keep strong Rudy. We love you. Kiss my Aunt Jean for me. xoxo

    7 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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    Deborah Lloyd Norsworthy So nice to hear. She sounds like she is meant for this type of interaction. So happy for your Mom and for you. I have been through this too and it makes such a difference in their quality of life. Thanks for sharing..... SO sorry to hear you are facing this again so soon.

    7 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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    LaTonga Williams I know that this is difficult for you to see your mom not feeling well. My mother and I took care of my grandma while I was at sego and I will tell you that caregiving is a difficult job but a rewarding one. I will continue to pray for strength for u and also for ur mom

    6 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
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    Susan Louth Kim sounds like a true angel. You have most certainly been surrounded by good people since your move back to DE. Amen for that, and, as somebody mentioned above, there's definitely good karma in the Nyhoff household. Strength heading your way, again. xo

    6 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
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    Gina Mancini Becker ditto....true Angel  xoxo

    5 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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    Margaret Sargent Meyers What a beautiful tribute, Rudy. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

    4 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2
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    Harriet C. Brantley You are an amazing and patient son. Blessing to you.

    4 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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    Laurie Taylor Jackson Blessings to you and your family, Rudy.

    3 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
  • 

    Vicki Gaither Proefrock So sorry, Rudy, for all you're going through.....holding you in the light.

    2 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
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    Rudy Nyhoff An addendum: Thank you, thank you, all of you caring and wonderful people who took the time to read my post and then took some more to write your comforting words. It means, well, that I am not alone and on this planet of 7 billion people, where it's easy to feel that way, it is an amazing gift. 
    
    The nurse Kim got back to me with news about her discussion with mom's doctor. We are adjusting her meds and she will be replenishing others through the drug services of Delaware Hospice. She is resting comfortably at present and I'm hopeful that this state continues.

    about an hour ago · Like · 5
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    Karen Lesko Rudy I have had 4 family members in hospice and the people who work in hospice are truly angels. You are going through so much right now and are in our thoughts and prayers!

    54 minutes ago · Unlike · 1
  
  
  
  Kim, who has four boys ages 9 to 2 and two brothers (she's extremely close to her mother), was the RN on duty the last night of dad's life. She came over in the early morning to try to care for him and then, later in the day, was called to pronounce him. Mom met her only at that time and shared amazing stories with this compassionate, empathetic, highly skilled nurse with listening skills to die for, literally. She is in the right profession. Just look at her face, total focus on her patient, my mother. Thank you Kim for your attention, your love and concern.