Nana Turns 93

September 15, 2016. Nana's 93rd birthday. A year before, when she celebrated her 92nd birthday, she was in The Meadows Assisted Living and two weeks from being discharged to go back to living alone in her apartment. Last birthday, it had been over five months since the terrible fall that sent her to the hospital, nursing home and assisted living. A betting person would've never imagined Nana could go home again. But, then, one should never bet against Nana.

It's been a roller coaster year. One that saw a few more falls - no more broken bones thankfully. But the fall in May this year put her in the hospital/nursing home for over a month. (See my blog post from June 2016.) I'll never forget the social worker looking for a vacancy in a nursing home, while Sharon and Cindy, her caregiver, and I fought to get Nana back into her cozy apartment. When she finally got released to go home, she was so weak. But who wouldn't be? Nana was only out of bed for about an hour a day for therapy.

Could she be on her own again? I admit, I wasn't sure. But, what I was sure about was, more than anything, I wanted her to be home. And Sharon wanted her home and Cindy wanted her home and her caring neighbors at Houston Ridge wanted her home. Most of all, Nana wanted to be home. And when Nana wants something, she's determined to get it.

Slowly she got stronger. Stronger with Sharon's frequent visits, regular pill preparation and lots of KFC meals. Stronger with Cindy's daily help with pills and meals and baths and hair setting. Stronger with my monthly visits of four days of TLC. Stronger with deviled eggs delivery from Wayne and Sharon and occasional Sunday meal deliveries from Bill and Marcia. Stronger with the "juice boxes" regularly ordered by Lori.   

I remember in the summer when she wanted to go, by herself, to the gazebo in Houston Ridge to sit with her neighbors and visit. "Out of the question," I thought to myself. "She's not strong enough to do that."  How would she get out the door by herself with her downstairs walker? How would she walk there without taking a rest?  How would she sit on a bench or chair without a cushion?

To my surprise, Nana figured it out. She got out the door by herself. She pushed herself to walk the distance, stopping when she needed to rest. Her kind neighbors lent her cushions and gave her the most comfortable chair. And when she was ready to go back to her apartment, Chuck or John or Bud or any other neighbor there walked her back and helped her in the door. And everyday she walked there, she got stronger from the exercise and happier from the good company.

September 15, 2016. Nana's 93rd birthday. Lots of reasons to celebrate. Nana's home and she's stronger than she's been in a long time. She seems happy most of the time, especially when she gets to go to Wendy's. Most important, she's surrounded by all of us who love and cherish her as we look forward to celebrating her 94th birthday next September.

Nana 93rd Birthday September 2016

Nana in Gazebo Summer 2016