Monday, January 9, 2012

The hospital, parking lot and some stories

- Spending the weekend within this hospital in Thomasville, Georgia with my mother (who is recovering from the aftereffects of a fall.)  The architecture of the building seems out of character for the surrounding neighborhood, but yet somehow fits anyway. 

- And in the parking lot, while getting in the car to leave, there is this view.  The tree is what is referred to as a "Live Oak" and has the usual ethereal looking Spanish moss dripping from it.  The house across the street is typical of the beautiful homes surrounding the hospital.

- Three favorite stories from the weekend (I was there from Friday morning to Sunday evening):
  1. Two visitors come in and we stand whispering beside my sleeping (and sedated) mother's bed.  Ever the Southern Belle, her eyes open and she gently reprimands me for not offering them a chair.
  2. A nurse is wearing a beautiful two-toned gold pendant.  Her father had it made for her specially, knowing that she loved white and yellow gold together.  It arrived in the mail one week after he died and is a Guardian Angel pendant.  She never takes it off.
  3. A woman who comes in to clean the room tells me how much she loves working there and that this is her favorite floor of all.  I tell her that the people who work on that floor couldn't have been nicer, so I can understand that.

25 comments:

Snaggle Tooth said...

Hope your Mom heals up quickly. Falls can be scary. Hope nothing broke- Will send a prayer for her.
Nice building arches. Love that moss- None up here.
Once a Mom, always a hostess! Wow, the pendant is beyond special! We can all use another angel! Lucky lady to love her job because the folks are so good-

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

Thank you - she did not break anything, but has a torn rotator cuff and a bulging disk. They think some numbness in her feet and legs are a result from the bulging disk and most likely caused enough unsteadiness to cause a fall. There's a big test today to see the extent of the damage.

Thank you for your prayers. And I loved talking to everyone who came in. Most responded to my chattiness. :)

Louvregirl said...

Lynn~ What a truly wonderful way of seeing while in the hospital. I know the pain of someone hovering 'on the edge' at times; my F-i-L (who has recently come to live on our property in an adjacent apartment) fell in his bathroom nearly two weeks ago. We try our best to 'foster' all things promoting his safety...but one can't control all things. He is 78. How old is your Mum?

Granny Annie said...

The hospital is unique and the surrounding area is beautiful. I am pretty sure I lived in such a southern mansion in my previous life. You sound like you come by your graciousness naturally. Like mother like daughter.

LL Cool Joe said...

Oh dear I hope your mom is okay. I'll say a prayer for her too.

I'm so glad she's getting such good attention for everyone including you.

happygirl said...

I hope your mom gets well soon. I remember you said she fell. I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was so bad. LOVE the architecture, but it is so SoCal. LOVE LOVE LOVE the tree. And I love the southern belle in your mom. :)

TALON said...

Lynn, hope your mother is rapidly on her way to a full recovery. She's in my thoughts and prayers.

How amazing is that necklace arriving like that? I can totally understand why she wears it always.

That tree is magnificent!

Lynn said...

lg -

My mom is 83. She got so many compliments from hospital workers this weekend about her pretty thick hair (still mostly natural brown) and her beautiful skin.

It's hard to see them suffer, isn't it? Her assisted living people were right there, so she wasn't down long, but, you are right, it's tough to be on top of things like that.

Granny Annie -

You make me smile - thank you for that wonderful compliment.

Yes - I like to think what it would be like to live in a place like that house and have staff. :)

Joe -

My sister is with her today. We never leave her alone when she is in the hospital.

Thank you for your prayers!

happygirl -

Thank you and it does look kind of Southern California. There was a Spanish influence in nearby northern Florida - DeSoto and all that. Perhaps that's where that came from.

She is such a Southern Belle - I love that, too. Thank you.

Lynn said...

Talon -

You slipped in there! Thank you - we appreciate all prayers.

And I love the Live Oaks - oh, the things they've seen.

I loved the nurse's story. People are so fascinating to me.

Sara said...

I hope your mom gets well soon. That's always scary when someone falls, but it sounds like she's in good and kind hands.

Thomasville is a very lovely town. I've been quite a few times to the Farmers' market and for the rose garden they have...or I think still have.

I'll also send my prayers for mom's way. From the comments, she should have a lot heading that direction.

Take good care of yourself, as well!

Jannie Funster said...

Sorry to hear about your mom's fall. I'm sure they'll get that disk fixed up in no time.

I'm glad someone from the family can always be there with her. A lovely looking, and sounding hospital indeed.

Imagine receiving such a special a gift from someone who died between the ordering and the receiving. Not only just "someone" but her dad. I'd never take it off either.

Extra hugs today, dear Lynn

xoxo

Chatty Crone said...

I am so sorry that your mom fell. I hope she gets well soon - I will add her to my prayers. So you are a GA gal too and your mother sounds so sweet. sandie

BragonDorn said...

I hope your mom gets better! :/

Elephant's Child said...

I am so sorry to hear of your mum's fall. My heart goes out to her and to the family as well.
The nurse's pendant is a lovely story. And I would feel much more confident about the calibre of care if the workers were happy. That is just lovely.
It sounds as if you are like me and talk to everyone. And hearing their stories is always a privilege.
I hope the final tests give only good news. Hugs from afar.

Shionge said...

Hey Lynn, hope your Mom is getting better now.

Yes, been to hospital very often accompanied my Mom for her checkups and I always like to observe people around me. The patents, the care-giver, the doctors and nurses etc. Always a story to tell, some with sadness within them...etc etc.....

Riot Kitty said...

I hope your mom heals soon - my grandfather has had a couple of falls like that and I know it's scary. What a lovely building! Doesn't look like a hospital. That's a good thing.

G. B. Miller said...

Hopefully your mom is doing a-okay and that she'll be back to good as new in nothing flat.

Lynn said...

Sara -

Thank you for your prayers. We covet prayers.

Yes - the rose garden is still there - I like to walk in that park that is next to it when I'm down there. It is a lovely town and very friendly people.

Jannie -

Thanks for the extra hugs! I appreciate it. And that was an astounding story of the necklace. Hope your day is good.

xo

Sandie -

Thanks for your prayers - I appreciate it. Yes - but I live in the Atlanta area. I call Thomasville my "new home town." :)

Lynn said...

BragonDorn -

Thank you!

The Elephant's Child -

Thank you for the hugs - gladly received.

Yes - I am always interesting in people's stories. Everyone has one and almost everyone in the room was good about chatting with me. It's my favorite thing.

Shionge -

We have that in common - yes, sometimes the story is sad. But I find that people like to talk about themselves and very often, as in the case with the woman who was cleaning, people don't take the time to listen. I enjoyed talking to her very much.

G -

Thanks, G.

Riot Kitty -

Thank you - I think she is a getting better.

And the hospital building is great in that it doesn't look too institutional.

Full-On-Forward said...

Beautiful story and Prayers for Mom!!!

John

Maude Lynn said...

I hope that your mom recovers quickly!

Fireblossom said...

All best wishes to your mom, Lynn.

Betty Manousos said...

aw, so sorry to hear about your mom...lynn; wishing her a speedy recovery.
sending my thoughts and prayers to her.

the hospital is really nice and the surrounding area is beautiful.


(((hugs)))

Leonora said...

Lynn, I do hope and pray that your mom recovers quickly.
I especially like her "hostess" comment. She sounds like my mom...always the mother : )

Lynn said...

John -

Thank you, my friend.

Mama Zen -

She is doing better, but still in the hospital.

FB -

Thanks Shay -

Betty -

I'll take some more photos sometime - I love Thomasville. Kids were riding bicycles around and out walking and playing. You just don't see that in the city.

Leonora -

I know - it cracked me up (and the visitors.) :) I was surprised she didn't add that I should have offered them something to drink.