New Company

During the summer, Tom and I left the area and we needed someone to take care of  Nana's needs: fill the prescription boxes, check in and make sure she was doing OK.  I turned to Michelle, one of Ed's best friends and a nursing student at UMass Dartmouth.  Not only did she do a great job, but Nana loved the extra attention-- when asked if Michelle was one of her granddaughters, she answered, "No, but the day that I adopted her as one of my own was one of the happiest days of my life"... :)
   So when Nana showed some distress in the midafternoons, calling my cell phone 6+ times a day, I turned to hiring another young friend for her. I visited my nurse friends at the local high school and asked for recommendations for an after-school companion for her: someone fun, caring, and willing to walk/bowl/play pool for a couple of hours twice a week.  After listening to my request, one of the nurses suggested that her son might be interested.  We met, and Sam started last week.
  What a score! He is terrific-- so terrific that Nana actually remembered his visit the next day and told the activities director all about him- "Such a nice man, and he was hired just for me!"  And the number of phone calls last week? Three.  All week. SCORE!!!

Becky's "Adventures"

Nana surprises me every time I see her with her newest adventure as she refers to it. As many of my friends know, every time I go to see her it is guaranteed that I have some story about my day. Here are some of my favorites:

The keys: Nana cannot keep track of keys. Now she hides them throughout her apartment, usually in pants pockets, on drawstrings, inseam, wherever she can hide it from the robbers. Before we moved her out of Indy one of the tasks I had was to empty her safety deposit box. Nana told me that she had all the keys for me when I arrived, I just needed to know which one to use. I walked in to her apartment and found a cookie sheet covered in tin foil with every key she found in her apartment individually taped to the sheet along with a few paper clips. Nana- “Look how I found my keys!”

Why she needs a phone in her bedroom: Nana is a flirt. Even if she doesn’t know, she always has a new “beau” as she calls them. Despite being in her 80s with no memory, she is one hot ticket! One night I went to visit Nana with Elyse and she disconnected her phone in the living room. I found it in her room and asked why it was there. She said that she needed to have a phone in her room. Who needs a phone in their room at night? Unless its for an alarm, no one needs it. I asked why she needed it- “I get phone calls at night!” From who? “All the tall, dark, handsome men that see me and want my number”

Santa: Nana looooves to go out in public any time we are willing to take her (its quite an undertaking!) Every Christmas Eve we go to Oconnors Pub where Nana is guaranteed to get some form of beer, as if she wasn’t already loopy! On our way out of the restaurant, there was a man wearing a red tshirt with a grey beard. He was a bit heavy, but not Santa size. Nana spotted him, reached out, patted his tummy and said “Merry Christmas Santa!” His wife burst out laughing and we ran out as fast as we could.

Kisses for all! This summer Nana upped her flirt to a new level. She has always been loving to her family with lots of hugs, but this summer she has decided it is time to share the love. While there with Anne and Leigh Nana stopped all of the residents, including a poor woman in a wheel chair, telling them how lucky they are and giving a big kiss. To top it all off, we got on the elevator and 2 unassuming workers were already there. Nana looked straight at one of the men and said, “Well, aren’t you going to kiss me?” I really want her in a mask come flu season…

Freckled: In addition to the great doctor stories Mom said below she also was asked about her race. After much thinking, she responded- Freckled! I think Nana just created a new race but looking at our family it certainly fits!

Every visit with Nana has certainly become an adventure, one that puts a smile on my face every time whether she is flashing a pearl ring in my face as an “ugly, cheap thing”, kissing the workers or asking for money to buy new underwear. I can't wait to hear her latest when I am home again in November!

Bex

Busy Summer

Is it really September?  Time flies so fast, and I can't believe that it has taken me this long to write about Nana.  Thanks so much to everyone who thinks of her regularly and checks this blog.  I love to think that I can pass Nana's spirit to so many people. Her short term memory keeps getting worse; but she still manages to touch those around her. I will try to keep more up-to-date.  And I will spend this weekend updating you on this Summer's adventures...
  We went to the MD in July, and like always, she got a great report.  Weight steady, despite many ice creams, and heart rate and blood pressure were stellar.  No growth in her blood cells, so her chronic leukemia is also in check. Her only problem was with the memory test...
  Doctor: "OK Jane, I'm going to ask you a few questions. Are you ready?"
  Nana: "Sure.  I hope I'm not going to be graded on my answers!"
  Dr: "What month is it?"
  N: "Well, I know it's not December."   We all smiled at each other.
  N: "Because that was last month. It must be January!"  Oh boy.
Dr: And what season is it?
Nana looked at her clothes: a summery top and some capris.
N: Um, Winter? Yes, winter. Winter is in January."
Dr: Ok.  So where are we right now?
N: What do you mean?
Dr: Where do you live?
N: New York!
Dr: City?
N: New York City!
  Oy.  At least she didnt say she was a Yankees fan.....

We have adjusted her meds and she is doing a little better with her short term memory. She was able to recount much of her visit with John (her son, my brother) and his family, while she doesn't remember many of her other visits this summer.  But day to day, she remains in a happy place. And that is wonderful. Even if it is in New York.... :)