Blessings in disguise

[DaniB]

I have been feeling sad that we weren't in Disney this weekend (originally planned) but it turns it's a good thing we're not!

Just before Christmas my parents annouced they would watch the kids this September if my husband & I would like to go away by ourselves. We have not been kid free (even a full weekend) in 12 years, so we jumped at the chance and booked an end of May trip!

About February, my husband insisted we change it to September. And I did, though I really wanted a Star Wars weekend. Ah well.

We were suppose to fly there on the 26th.

Meanwhile, my mom has been having difficulty breathing for almost 2 weeks. A local emerg. clinic sent her to the hospital (concerned about her heart) almost 2 weeks ago. The hospital sent her home saying she had asthma. Still having difficulty breathing. She went to her doctor today, who immediately sent her to the hospital (different one, different city).

She's been there all day and staying overnight. Turns out she is having a heart issue, not asthma... Pulmonary edema and her heart is enlarged. A whole lot of questions to ask tomorrow.

I'm so glad we are home. So glad now that my husband hates heat & crowds and insisted on September. We would be going nuts cancelling our trip, packing and getting a flight home! And to think of my dad trying to take care of the kids and my mom an hour away in the hospital...

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

I just love the way the Lord works!! I hope your mom will get better quickly and I'm glad you are there to be with her!! I'm sure your September trip will be awesome as well.

 

[Cee]

It always amazes me that things always work out the way they're supposed to. Sept. is amazing for the low crowds, but be prepared for it to still be hot.

 

[SnackyStacky]

To quote Sophia Petrillo from the Golden Girls:

"I always wondered why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked!"

Glad everything worked out to ensure you'd be home so your Dad could devote time to your mom. Hoping that everything now works out so the doctors can take care of your mom's heart.

 

[2Tiggies]

I hope your Mom is feeling a little better and that everything turns out well for you and your family. I am sure she has felt thankful more than once over the last day or two that you are closer to her too, and not away on vacation.

 

[DaniB]

Thank you for the well wishes.

I was surprised by what Mom was telling me last night, as when I got off the phone with my dad he seemed to think it was a bad case of pnemonia. Turns out my mom did not tell my dad last night as she wanted more info.

Mom was released and back home this morning. The hospital is setting up an appointment with a cardiologist. It is congestative heart failure. But no one was clear on whether this is a short life span or many years type of an health issue... I guess these are questions for the cardiologist, plus there's more tests being scheduled.

The general concesus is that this developed as a result of chemotherapy (back 8 years ago now I think). Maybe a unknown heart attack, but probably chemo. In either case, the doctor told my mom this did not develop during the past 2 weeks (though certainly the other hospital *should* have caught this) but has been going on for at least a year.

I hope it doesn't take months for answers now...

While talking with my husband last night, I made sure he was aware that chances are very much so my parents are not going to be able to look after our kids. We're not going to make decisions right now but I can see us turning this into a family vacation or cancelling.

As much as I would have *loved* a kid free trip, I'm not upset over it. I'm actually leaning toward cancelling and booking a non-Disney trip next year for the family again. There's so *much* to see & do in Florida! Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Aquatia, Universal Studios!! I've spent the whole morning pricing & planning... Now I could have a year of adding more vacation money and turning it into a 2-3 week vacation, right? I'm totally nuts aren't I? To be fair, last year was the first time I ever left Ontario, Canada...

Gee, I just spoke with her (after I wrote this) and I thought she would sound better. But she sounds worse... She says she's really tired though (has not slept much in a few days) so hopefully tomorrow.

 

[SDSorority]

OP- we'll be there around the same time! September 19-24!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Good thing is, she can probably live a long almost normal live with CHF. My mom was diagnosed with it in the 90's and lived with it for more than 10 years. It was other heart problems that she passed away from.

I work with alot of people that have CHF and as long as they get proper healthcare, they can live a long, full life.

Suzanne

 

[RAPstar]

Hope your mom gets well soon!

 

[DaniB]

Good thing is, she can probably live a long almost normal live with CHF. My mom was diagnosed with it in the 90's and lived with it for more than 10 years. It was other heart problems that she passed away from.

I work with alot of people that have CHF and as long as they get proper healthcare, they can live a long, full life.

That is REALLY good to read. Thank you for posting this! I'm going to phone my mom later and let her know about your mom.

I wonder if you wouldn't mind PM'ing more info to me? Are there different categories of CHF, or is it it's own classification? Did your mom need to make a lot of changes/considerations in how she lived after being diagnosed? Right now we have no information on how to deal with this.