Assignment # 1- done

Because of my role as an educator, wife to a professor, and mom of three students, I often compare situations to a classroom. Yesterday, I faced assignment #1 since our Michigan move: attending Mom’s first post-surgical appointment. Note-taking is a priority since I doubt my ability to completely convey all the medical information to the rest of my family.

Similar to students arriving in class on the first day, I felt apprehension as I drove to downtown Grand Rapids with Corey, the navigator. Salsa, our red Toyota mini-van, is leaking air-conditioning fluid and rattles at times. Solution- crank up the 80’s music! Solution # 2- crank up teenager music and know it will irritate to the point of distraction. The solution I constantly use, however, is a heavy dose of prayer.

Despite my apprehension, we arrived without issues and located the building without challenges. As we awaited her arrival, questions flooded my mind. What will she look like when she arrives? Will it be confusing for her to be in a different environment? Will she find it strange to see us there?

Free WIFI, friendly staff, decor that included the colors navy, tan, and gray allow comfort and ease in midst of patients with walkers, canes, crutches, and leg boots. The television provided a distraction as well.

Corey even received a comment about his hair. “That hair! You don’t see it like that anymore!” The comment caused us to chuckle and relieved some more of the apprehension.

Finally, the doors opened to my mother, in a wheel chair. She seemed moderately okay but was wearing stained pants. Ugh.The outfit didn’t match at all. Another ugh.

Paperwork included the need for her signature. Although I do have power of attorney, the office did not have those papers, so Mom had to sign. She managed to write her signature the first time, but by the end, she wrote random letters so I helped. Who would have thought that signing your name would be so challenging? As her wrinkled, bony fingers grasped the pen, images of her sitting at the kitchen table, writing cards and letters to others filled my mind.

Some may ask why Corey, a sixteen year old boy, would attend the appointment. My basic answers are that I wanted help navigating the downtown streets and taking notes of the appointment. My deeper answer is that I want him to experience some of this: pushing a wheel chair, seeing others working in the medical community, and experiencing caregiving. I hope that seeing others with challenging health will allow him to appreciate the gift of good health.

Because I do not have medical background, I asked the physician’s assistant if we could record the appointment. Taken aback, she commented on how she had never had someone ask. However, she agreed so Corey recorded her comments. The appointment went well.

As we waited for the ambu-cab driver to arrive, Mom uttered words that filled me with fear. “I have to go”. Hoping she meant going home, I asked her what she meant, but she meant the restroom. Oh no. How would I complete this task? Corey couldn’t help. We managed to locate a handicap restroom, but where was a nurse to help? It was me, the inexperienced caregiver who needed to complete this part of the assignment.

Despite my fears of her falling, we managed to complete this arduous task and she left in the ambu-cab to head back to the rehab facility.

Finishing an assignment often leaves students with relief which is what I felt; relief and thankfulness that it was over.