Cody Updates by Mom

The last days have been very odd, basically good but going at a pace that my mind is racing to keep up.

First of all, the good news.  Mom’s elderly waiver is all but finalized.  The social worker today told me that it will be in effect today and I will only need to find payment for the prior seven days.  I cannot express enough the relief that I have about the fact that we have finally made it to the next step successfully.  Whoever is sending prayers and positive thoughts, thank you, really, I know that you are making a difference and I cannot be more grateful.

The next good news.  I do not have permission to say who but someone has offered to help pay for the first seven days that mom has been at White Pine.  I am blessed and humbled about this.  Thank you.  Thank you also for the support that you have provided me throughout, not only my life, but in this process that I am going through.  Thank you.

With the elderly waiver, I do have more to do but at least I have a plan.  I need to get rid of mom’s vehicle as the elderly waiver doesn’t include any bills outside of medical related bills.  Mom will get $100 a month for the odds and ends but everything else either goes to pay for medical insurance, the elderly waiver or to white pine for her rent.  I now have a plan and need to liquidate anything that is costing my mother any type of bill.

I got to spend some pretty good time with mom today as the social worker was doing the assessment.  I want to give some advice if you visit mom.  First of all, she is very sensory.  Touch is extremely important.  She may not know who you are but holding her hand, getting her to make eye contact with you and smiling will give you back the most amazing smile from her.

The entire time I was there I was touching her.  Rubbing her back, holding her hand and letting her touch my hands.  The staff has noticed this so much that the house manager even brought her own silk pillow case in for mom because she thought she would love it.  Mom may not know where she is or what is going on but she is not sad, she is not angry and she is safe.  I can ask for no more.

So, here’s the really odd part.  Today, I was my mother’s grandmother.  Interesting.  I do know there is a song about “being my own grandpa”.  It is very weird and I will let you look that one up for yourself.

She was so happy that I (her grandma) was there and with her.  Her smile not only lit up her face it also lit up her eyes.  At this point, I don’t care who I am to my mom, if I can have that smile happen, then I know that I have given her something special.  I am grateful I have the opportunity to be something that gives her light.

If and when you visit.  Make sure that you are close to her.  Say hi and get her to make eye contact.  Hold her hand or rub her shoulders.  She is responding to that kind of touch.  Understand that she may not know you but she is happy you are there.

Other news.  I am happy to say that I am a great aunt again!  I also have a new grand-kitty.  Yep, we consider all of our kids pets our own grand-pets.  I have a grand-dog (Waterloo), a grand-snake (Klaus) and a new grand-kitty (Bow).  Here is a kitty picture for those of you that need a little kitty time.  Meet bow 🙂 the new member of the King family.