My family need T&P...

autumn wren · October 2010

Rusty's grandmother has been in and out of the hospital for about six months now. She has been fighting a bad strain of what they thought was pneumonia and yet, she has not gotten any better. Recently, she was transported from her local hospital to the hospital here (about 45 minutes away) and admitted into the ICU. She has been there since last Thursday. She has been recieving supplemental oxygen because her breathing is so poor. Her oxygen saturation level has been very low, even with O2 running.

Yesterday she was removed from ICU and placed in a "regular" room, only to be admitted back into the ICU two hours later. Her oxygen saturation yesterday was 70% on supplemental oxygen (which it should be 100% on room air) and around 40-50% without it.

They diagnosed her yesterday with pulmonary fibrosis. Rusty's aunt called yesterday and told us that the doctor mentioned it was "terminal and that she only has about two months left". She's only 72. As you can imagine, we're devastated.

Not only that, but Rusty's mother has been living with her. His mom is, to put it lightly, an addict. She's an alcoholic, a pot-head, and addicted to perscription narcotics. She visits several doctors and different pharmacies to obtain different meds. Just last week, she was perscribed 90 painkillers...three days later they were all gone. It's sad. Rusty and I "took care" of her when he and first started dating and his grandmother decided to let her live with them because she believed it would limit her resources. That didn't happen. His mom does not work but somehow pulls disability every month. I'm sure she doesn't make enough to live on her own, I'm sure, because it is all spent on her fixes. Rusty & I and the rest of his family are at a loss of ideas of what to do if/when his grandmother passes. I don't know where she is going to live or what is going to happen.

I know that there is a plan for everything, but I am honestly emotionally, physically, and mentally drained. I am exhausted and have hit a dead-end. Ladies, any thoughts and prayers you can muster would be a great help. Please pray for our family...

Pookums · October 2010

Many thoughts and prayers to you and your family. How horrible that one tragedy results in yet another problem (not that it wasn't an issue to begin with, Rusty's grandmother must be a saint).

I hope it works out for the best, I know how it is to have family members that are so draining on everyone else.

shelley1002 · October 2010

Many vibes, T&Ps on their way.

So sorry to hear that one not good situation will lead to another. Is there anyway to check his mother into rehab against her will? What about calling the doctors that she is getting the prescriptions from to tell them that she's an addict and only sees them to get prescriptions?

MarJo03 · October 2010

T&P to the whole family.

SSM&JLM · October 2010

T&P to you all.

As for the mom issue, from my own experience with my sister, I would not let her live with you. I know that sounds harsh, but I see what my parents go through with my sister and honestly if they didn't have the financially capability to deal with her, I'm not sure if they would have survived. It's a big drain on them emotionally and physically. Especially when my sister started stealing from my parents to take to the pawn shop to get drug money.