5 Things to Make a Trip to the Emergency Room Easier

When the phone rang at ten pm on a Sunday night, a quavery voice said, "We've had a little accident over here." These few words can send the adrenaline pumping. The first time we got that call, we rushed over to check on Mom who said she'd fallen. She'd crawled from her living room to the bedroom to use the only working phone. The other one broke with her fall. We wondered if we should call an ambulance or just drive her to the hospital to get checked out. We made the wrong decision.

We learned the hard way that it's dangerous to move or transport an injured person. Worse, when we arrived at the emergency room there was a long wait behind others who either looked worse or had arrived by medical transport. She spent a couple of uncomfortable hours on a hard xray table before the doctor arrived at the small town hospital. Mom was admitted with a broken hip.

Another call came on the morning of New Year's Eve before seven am. Mom asked for help getting a shower explaining that she had fallen during the night. She lay on the bathroom floor until morning. The tone of her voice indicated something was very wrong. I should have called an ambulance immediately. Instead, we bundled her up against the January cold and drove her to the emergency room. Again, bad move. The hospital was operating with a skeleton crew due to the holiday. We waited in the ER eight long hours surrounded by patients who were coughing, sneezing or vomiting.

During that time, the staff would not allow Mom to have even an ice chip until the doctor examined her. When her name was finally called, the doctor launched into a lecture about the patient being seriously dehydrated and running a fever. Imagine our response.

When the time comes to go to the hospital, the arriving paramedics will ask about the patient's  medications, their allergies, and medical history before the current emergency. 

Emergency Go Bag

Ambulance drivers want to take the patient's insurance and identification cards with them on the way to the hospital. Giving them a photocopy can avoid the loss of the patient's original cards. Gathering copies of all this info in one place ahead of time can help reduce some of the stress. 

1. Make a copy of the patient's Medical Insurance Card, front and back. It has the phone number, policy and member's identification number. Put the copy into a Go Bag dedicated for emergencies.
2. While at the doctor before an emergency grab two of their business cards; one for your wallet and one for the Go Bag.
3. Create a list of other important phone numbers in case your cell phone battery dies during the wait. You'll want the numbers for their doctors, their minister, out-of-town relatives, friends and neighbors who might be concerned.
4. Make a list of prescription medications showing the exact dosages and the frequency taken. 
5. Add a list of known allergies or reactions to medication taken in the past and a list of over-the-counter medicines taken routinely.

When my husband went to the hospital for surgery, he was taking a lot of prescription medications. Rather than try to remember them, we made a list of each medication, its exact strength and dosage frequency. Several printed copies of this list went into the Go Bag. The admissions staff, nurses and doctors were grateful not to have to write it all down by hand. For example:

It's often necessary to provide info about previous hospital stays and the outcome, and whether the patient was admitted, along with a list of all surgeries the patient has undergone.

• Prepare a List of previous surgeries, the types and the dates, such as,  Appendectomy - 1975; Left Hip, Replacement Surgery - 1991

It's a good idea to ask the patient for this information ahead of time. If they're confused or possibly unconscious you'll have the list available.

Most of the following items are optional for the Go Bag, but they're handy and easy to pick up at the dollar store.

1. A small tablet for notes and instructions once the doctor arrives.
2. A good book for long waits at the hospital and to avoid the germ laden, out-of-date magazines in the waiting room.
3. Bottled water and packaged crackers or cookies. When your wait is long you'll be glad you have this. It never fails, if you leave the room for a minute to go to the cafeteria, that's when a medical person comes in with an update.
4. Cup of instant soup or protein bars.
5. Wet wipes and travel size hand sanitizer.
6. Tissues for tears or runny noses.
7. A new toothbrush and travel size toothpaste. This is for you.
8. Packets of sugar or artificial sweetener, salt, pepper, and plastic spoons. Sometimes a vending machine has food but there are no utensils or condiments available.
9. A clean pair of cotton socks to wear in those cold waiting rooms at the hospital.

If you drive your friend to the hospital, bring along any medical equipment they use. When Dad became critically ill after chemo, he refused to go in the ambulance. We drove him to the emergency room and in our haste, left his portable oxygen at home. The ER was overflowing and he had a dreadfully long wait before they finally admitted him to intensive care. Every gasping breath without his oxygen was a nightmare.

If your friend is admitted and you want to talk with the attending doctor,  sometimes they make their rounds near midnight so you could be waiting a while. Once you've invested hours waiting for X-rays, blood work and other stuff, you'll want to know what's going on.

In the hopeful possibility that your senior is not admitted, you'll want to bring their walker or wheelchair when you follow the ambulance to the hospital. They'll need these when they're released. One final tip just in case you lose the ambulance you're following. Ask the paramedics where they're taking the patient so you'll arrive at the right hospital.

Taking a few moments to assemble a few items into a Go Bag can reduce some of the anxiety that goes with any trip to the hospital. The best hope is that you won't ever need to use it.

On Becoming Your Parent's Guardian - Role Reversal

When our parents seek help on small tasks they've easily handled in the past, it can come as a surprise. The indecision creeps in slowly on little cat's feet starting with hesitation over making minor decisions about things they've handled effectively for years.

My mother asked, "How much rice goes in the pot and how long should I cook it?" I gently reminded her that she'd cooked rice for many more years than I had.

Small tasks became more difficult as time passed. In a way, being asked for advice from a parent was flattering. What I didn't know was that the tide had begun to turn; the child was becoming the parent one small step at a time.

Things went along smoothly as our new relationship emerged. I became more of an equal to someone who had always shown authority and control. This awesome responsibility is not to be taken lightly. It arrives with its own baggage, setbacks, and joy. Friends my age shared that they'd been also called upon to provide advice to parents.

My best friend shared the frustration she experienced when trying to persuade her mother to use her supplemental oxygen like she's supposed to. Another friend tried to convince her mother to use the hearing aide she clearly needs. She shared the frustration of constantly having to repeat herself to her mother. How familiar it seemed to be interrupted mid-sentence by someone who years ago said, "Not now, Mother is speaking." But the shoe is suddenly on the other foot.

Aunt Lou at 94

A stay-at-home mom of the fifties, my mother began her mid-life career with little or no employment experience. She left nurse's training to get married in 1945. After her thirty-year marriage ended, she took vocational training and embarked on a career as a Certified Nurse Assistant at the age of fifty.

Suddenly she asked for advice on dating, grocery shopping and apartment hunting, advice she'd provided me in the past. Mom's new life as a single, sole-provider spanned the next thirty years. Her experience of taking a job outside the home added skills, confidence and a sense of accomplishment. On her eightieth birthday, she officially retired from a second career as a Teacher's aide.

Reality struck when Mom went into the hospital for a month. Although I'd always been a co-signer on her checking account, it became my job to manage her bill paying. Looking over her checkbook register revealed a level of forgetfulness. There were unpaid insurance bills and past due notices tucked away in drawers.  Thankfully, Mom was glad to be rid of the responsibilities of balancing the bank account and paying the bills.

Driving soon became another challenge when she reached her eighties. With diminished reflexes and increased fragility, it was no longer safe for her to be behind the wheel. She no longer felt confident on the road anymore. It is the opposite of the day we first got behind the wheel of a car in our teens, a life-altering decision which makes a senior dependent on others for their basic needs to get to doctors' appointments, pick up groceries, or even visit a neighbor.

What a relief it was when she turned her car keys over without being asked. Not everyone is that practical when the time comes to stop driving and this can be a source of friction for concerned relatives.

The two sisters, well into their 90s, still functioned independently in so many important ways although living in a  skilled nursing home due to health, vision, hearing and memory impairments.

One thing remains certain in our relationship. It is the unshakable friendship of my Mom, my true friend. She is a blessing and reminds me in so many ways that I'm the lucky one. They both make me proud

Writing, The Pub, A Murder Mystery by Peg Cole

The Pub, A Murder Mystery by Peggy Cole

I'm surprised, elated, fearful, proud, disoriented, and delighted to see my book finally made it to the printed form. To hold it in my hand and feel it as a real object is inexplicably gratifying.

As many writers can tell you, the worst is over when the editing, formatting, updating, file changes downloading, reviewing and waiting for proofs is done.

There to guide me throughout the tedious parts of the publishing process, Michael Friedman of Mockingbird Books and Publishing added all the right touches to get this project completed. Mike also designed a book cover and back page blurb that captured elements from the story into the design. He was there to encourage, uplift and assist during the entire process.

Friends took their valuable time to read the manuscript, add thoughts, suggestions, corrections and feedback for the final version. I'm indebted to my brother who read this manuscript multiple times and whose comments helped me fix some inconsistencies. I left in a few, but who's checking? Also, proud to say that Maria Jordan wrote a beautiful foreword for the front pages and served as an editor as well. Thank you!

Maria's kind review of The Pub is located within her blog: Marcoujor's Musings.

The printed book is available only in paperback from Amazon. I can provide autographed copies if you wish. I hope to release an eBook version in the near future as well.

Thank you, Mike, for this kind book review published in HubPages.

The Pub is about an impressionable young woman who takes a new job that will sweep her away from the dull and mundane world of finance into a world rampant with graft, theft, lechery, revenge and even murder.

Joe Mitchell, The Pub's bookkeeper, encounters a cast of characters whose shadows grow longer as the night deepens. She's swimming in the shark tank surrounded with people who toss her an anchor. In a world of drifters, life changes and financial woes, the climate is hazardous at The Pub where they're serving up more than just good food.

I invite you to read this novel and share the adventure with Joe as she maneuvers her way through a crowd of characters into clouds of change.

Feral Cats in the Country - A Poem

Living out in the country brings in a variety of stray cats looking for food and shelter. The latest visitor is a feral cat we named Tiny.

Soft paws sneaking in the wood,

New cat in the neighborhood.

Bug filled droppings in the yard,

Life so far has been real hard.

Sensed the dogs but unafraid

Came inside the fence and laid

Bravely on the garden sill

Bearing only his good will.

Needs a place to eat and sleep

Away from wolves disguised as sheep

Who live to run and love the chase

Makes the woods a scary place.

Here he'll stay and share his fleas

Unprotected against disease.

One day soon he’ll see the vet

Secure his future as a pet.

Until then he runs to hide,

Watching me eyes open wide.

A bowl of food and water, too

Sending silent thanks to you.

This is Tiny

The Night After Christmas 2015 - Extreme Weather

Willard's Gas Station or what's left of it.

We were watching a DVD when the tone sounded on our phone. Extreme alert was the message. We immediately turned on the TV to discover severe storms were in the area. Some communities were being advised to take cover.

It was already dark and the newscasters advised people not to go outside because with the rain a funnel cloud would not be visible. The warning was set to expire at 7:30 pm. We lost power at 7:20.

The view from the south toward Willard's

At that moment what goes through the mind is a jumble of thoughts. What should I take into the shelter?

I grabbed my engagement ring, my purse, cell phones, the weather radio, batteries, a blanket, flashlights and the dogs. Do we have candles? Yes. I ran to get them along with a lighter. 

We strained listening for the telltale sounds that everyone describes after a tornado: the freight train, the howling wind, the slamming of objects against the house, the roof creaking with the changes in air pressure.

The Emergency Broadcast System kicked in with the announcement often deemed "a test". This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This was not a test. This was the real thing. 

"A funnel cloud has been spotted in the Rowlett area, heading north east along a path expected to cross Lake Lavon." We live near Lake Lavon!

"A wall cloud has been spotted in Wylie heading along Highway 78. It is difficult to determine the extent of damage in the darkness with power poles snapped and lines downed."

Power Lines Down

Moments later, a rerun of the EBS announcement. Old news by now. Then, live broadcasters announce that several locations took a hit with high level winds involving multiple tornadoes. 

First responders assisted with a possibility of five fatalities in the Garland area, about twenty miles from us. Later more deaths were confirmed.

Next, news came of the twister in Farmersville. Correction, "a small town south of Farmersville where a gas station has been demolished and one person has been found, deceased. Another, critically injured, has been transported from the scene." They listed the FM crossroads. We Googled the location - about a mile and a half from our house. Our familiar gas station leveled; search and rescue teams going house to house looking for survivors.

By the dim light of our LED flashlights, we huddled in the only room with no windows, the bathroom, texting what might be our last messages to friends and family expressing our fears and our love before the all clear signal was announced.

Debris near our house

As dawn broke the next morning, Sunday, torrential rain pelted the area. TV breaking news showed photos of devastation in the surrounding communities and we counted our blessings, having dodged another close call.

Insulation, roof shingles, siding lodged in the trees.

A computer board  is wedged in the branches.

Our hearts go out to the residents of this house and to others in the area.

The Rain's a Pain and Falling On the Plains

Highway 78 Spillway Creek

The Texas drought has been replaced by the hundred year floods. For the past two months we've had rain nearly every day taking the Lake Lavon level from fourteen feet below normal to eleven point one feet above normal.

Old Highway 78 which is often used as a fishing pier, where the cows wandered freely on its dry lake bed is now completely submerged. Even Thompson Cemetery next to the lake has suffered with rising lake levels.


We feel lucky to be on an elevated location where the saturated ground drains away from our house. Even so, the yard is pooling with water making it impossible to mow.

The Weather Experts have predicted this morning's rain will end the long running stream and record breaking amounts of rain these past weeks. Hopefully, the yard will dry out enough to trim back the jungle.

The blueberries are getting plenty of water.

Those who live closer to bodies of water aren't as lucky as we've been with Duck Creek in Rowlett overflowing its banks and flooding homes. White Rock Lake and the Trinity River have overflowed their banks and are affecting neighboring communities flooding homes and sending many to shelters from the storms.

Even major highways have felt the impact of too much of a good thing. Northwest Highway was closed yesterday morning about 5:30 am when an underpass became flooded with over six feet of water. Despite barricades and warnings to "Turn around, don't drown," seven cars attempted to traverse the water and ended up being rescued by the National Guardsmen in floating rafts. It's expected to remain closed for a couple of days until rain water can be pumped into overflowing drainage canals that feed the already swollen waterways.

I'm wondering if all the prayers for rain during the drought over the past four years have finally reached their destination.

No more drought like we had in 2011 - 2014

Man Caves, Controlled Chaos

Some say that a messy desk is the sign of an organized mind. That might explain the explosion of chaos that reigns supreme in this man cave. Despite the disarray, this is the haven of dreams for many men.

At first glance it might seem like an accident waiting to happen. True, there may be wires dangling, floor jacks lurking, paint booth plastic drop cloths hanging from the ceilings and ladders to travail, but there is also order to the dusty decor. You have to learn the secret handshake to get inside.

This week's project has waited since the early nineties when the roof trusses were originally installed. So many projects have taken priority in the meantime.

The four foot spans between trusses are quickly being supplemented with a rafter installation in between the gaps. There is renewed hope that a ceiling will be installed so that air conditioning can become a reality. For the past two decades, this has only been a dream despite Texas summers with three digit temps.

Project that is now on the back burner.

The El Camino project has taken a back seat to the ongoing ceiling construction. Everything has to happen in a certain order.

The ceiling construction is a prelude to building the Powder Coat Oven, a device large enough to cook automotive intake manifolds and large specialized equipment.

The old oven from the house is used exclusively to bake auto parts.

The old oven from the house remodel is used exclusively to bake his auto parts now. Once used with the chemicals in the process, it can't be used for food anymore.

Here is where the magic of powder coating happens when it comes to turning carburetors into masterful works of art.

This is a link to the  hubby's videos on  How To Powder Coat a Carburetor explaining in detail how he does the entire powder coating process.

Holley Carburetor

 In case you have gotten lost in the maze of projects in this 32 x 64 foot garage, there is still a small path to let you find your way back out.

Go into the light if you want out.

Nice Ride - 1968 Chevelle

Helping out a neighbor is easy when they have a ride this nice.

When Jeff came over and asked for a bit of help rebuilding his big block Chevy engine, it was no trouble for Jim to take a look and give some prudent advice.

Together, they spent four days working on reassembling this 454 cubic inch Chevy, bored thirty over with flat top pistons.

With its Pro Comp aluminum heads with oval ports along with a Pro Comp intake, a nine and a half to one (9.5 to 1) compression ratio was attainable.

The engine had returned from the machine shop in pieces and needed to be completely assembled starting with painting the block. They chose Chevy orange finishing it off with a clear coat containing a heavy gold pearl. This gave the engine block a similar appearance to the car's exterior without the five hundred dollar a gallon price. The pistons were already on the rods, so they assembled the short block, added the heads and Jeff went home to install the oil pan and the intake manifold.

Jim uses a makeshift stethoscope to detect odd noises in the engine

The guys made an appointment with Randy at Wayne Calvert Precision Engines in Denton to test out the performance of the finished product. The dyno session turned into a ten hour Marathon because of small problems that would have taken months to troubleshoot had the engine been installed as is in the car. They were able to achieve horsepower at four hundred seventy (470 hp) with torque of five hundred sixty pounds (560 LB/FT).

Red Dawn in Texas

Today held another spectacular sunrise in North Texas that rolled in with the early morning fog. It's rare to see a dawn as brilliantly red as this one was and it lasted for only a few delightful moments.

Before the skyline had a chance to brighten, I grabbed my trusty camera and ran outside in the cool mist and snapped a few photos.

The scripture describes it well, "The Heavens declare the glory of God" Psalm 19:1

He painted a wondrous morning greeting today.

Spring is popping out at an amazing rate with the Bradford pear trees, for the first time, covered in white blossoms. Within days, the green leaves will outnumber the blooms, but at the moment, it is the sure sign of warmer days ahead.

I nearly lost my sense of humor when calling the Medicare Replacement Insurance to get the phone number for Mom's hearing evaluation doctor. Their HIPA rules are more a barrier to progress than a protection against identity theft.

After a tense few minutes of denying me any information, I finally advised the representative that I was not seeking any top secret information on my mother's health or coverage, I simply need a phone number for a doctor who will take her insurance for a hearing test.

"Ma'am, this is the number to fax your power of attorney as her representative so that I can speak with you," she kindly informed me.

Grandma at lunch at the facility today.

I told her after ten years of faxing the power of attorney into what might as well be outer space, that I was quite frustrated that no one could keep track of this information, and by the way, isn't this a violation of privacy not to be able to maintain a patient's information?

We were assured when we signed up for this coverage that this would never be necessary, as the proper forms were submitted with the application, however, this has not proven to be the case.

We did eventually come to terms and she kindly provided me with the phone number for two doctors who promptly informed me that they do NOT take this insurance, despite repeated attempts at trying to remove their name from the insurance company's list.

I said, "Good luck with that, would you like their fax number?"

Winter Moves in Overnight with a Texas Style Ice Storm

Two o'clock this morning our heater stopped working. Wouldn't you know it? Last week we had temperatures in the seventies, but today we're in the twenties.

I'm not complaining, though, compared to our counterparts in the northeast that had an Arctic blast of deep freezing snow, we've had a mild winter. This is, after all, Texas. If we don't like the weather we can be sure it will change in a couple of days.

The birds were delighted to have an ample supply of bird food and were making a feast of it all morning. I was able to catch a few of them at the buffet.


They were taking turns at the bird feeder with Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, a few sparrows, a dove and one stray blackbird who seemed to have lost his flock.

The best shot was when Mr. Cardinal decided to hop on the ground and scout for fallen corn.

When the Internet decided to take a short break this morning as well, I decided it was a good day to do some baking.

We purchased one of those huge bags of triple washed broccoli crowns from Costco last week.

After serving it a a couple of times steamed, it was time to put the rest of it to good use in a broccoli and ham Quiche. This was the perfect day to use the oven.


Here's how the Quiche came out. We had this for lunch today. Yum.

It turns out the HVAC compressor unit just needed to defrost a bit. Jane at Ross Air Conditioning, the service company that has taken care of us for over twenty years told us to turn it off for a few minutes.

After we turned it back on, we were delighted to get warm air out of the vents once again. Their company was iced in by the weather as well, so it's a good thing the heater is working. It's a nice warm feeling...

Back to bird watching.

Handyman Special For Sale

Each time I unlock the door to her house, I'm struck with a sense of overwhelming sadness. Memories come flooding back even to that day years ago when we moved her from Fort Worth and carried her possessions inside.

The TV is off, the room is cold, mementos are scattered everywhere. These inanimate objects remind me of birthday celebrations, meals, new refrigerators, septic tank repair, skunks in the yard, trees planted, yards mowed, tornadoes, and days that will forever live in the past.

Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have come and gone. So have two wiener dogs and a cat who shared this home with its two loving human parents.

Now the house lies vacant, silently waiting for me to empty it of all traces of the people who spent the last twenty years inside.

 

 Pictures on the walls, nick knacks on shelves, dishes in the cabinets, pans in the drawers, clothes in the closet, food in the cabinet, all wait for proper disposal.

My siblings have visited, taking with them any items to which they felt connected or which they presented as gifts over the years.

The vibes of these tangible items can be felt with eyes closed, holding these objects in hand, more clearly, sitting in a chair once occupied by the former residents.

Yet, nothing can replace those who resided here, two elderly women who wish they could still live in this small country home on half an acre, with its fenced yard and tiny storage shed; this handy-man special, double wide mobile home where their treasures on this earth remain and they do not.

Bike Ride on a Country Road

Last night as we settled into our post dinner stupor, our reverie was broken by the sound of an ambulance heading our way. Our custom of running to the window to check if it's headed to Grandma's hasn't changed, despite the fact that she no longer resides across the street.

"They're congregating at our corner!" I advised J who remained for the moment in front of the TV.

Seconds later, the ambulance was joined by a Lavon Police Department SUV which pulled across the end of our road blocking access to the corner where the ambulance stopped, lights flashing.Sirens screamed as a white Sheriff's car pulled to a stop behind the ambulance.

We were glued to the window, concerned, so J took a walk to the corner. The Nevada Fire Department vehicle that accompanies the paramedics arrived. Shortly afterward, their Number 2 engine arrived along with a Department of Public Safety marked car.

I ran upstairs to get a better view, but the scene was semi-blocked by the trees on the corner of our property. People were running about, gesturing wildly as officers looked on, taking notes with their eyes.

As J walked solemnly up the long driveway to our house, I could hear the unmistakable beat of a helicopter heading in our direction. The bright yellow Care-Flight helicopter circled above searching frantically for a place to land nearby.

In the past, they've landed on our front pasture, but this time, they chose another site down the road.

We found out that a woman riding a bicycle had been struck by a speeder who, according to a witness, had been doing about sixty miles per hour on our thirty-five mph street. Fortunately, someone in the car behind the woman stopped to render aid.

For about an hour, traffic in both directions and down our street was blocked off as the officers conducted their investigation while the noise of the chopper made its way across the cool blue sky.

We hope that her injuries were minor and that care and healing follow her Sunday night ride.