Mother Punched the Doctor

image courtesy photobucket.com

Wanting to quickly return the permission form to NOT give my mother a flu shot, I drove to the assisted living home where Mom now resides.

Years ago, mother had told me that she no longer wanted to receive flu shots, so it was important that I get these papers back to the home as soon as possible.

For her 99 years, and her weight at 99 my mother is still tough with her grip. Although her knees are weak, her spirit is strong even if her memory flows in and out like the tide.

Last week I had received a phone call from the home, that it was time for Mother’s three month Doctor’s appointment.

Thinking back to the last time I took her by myself, while toting her wheel chair, and her stubbornness to not want to exit my van; I was not looking forward to another doctor visit with Mom and the unwilling body transfers.

The lady at the care home said, that they would take her if I wanted them to. Yes, I told them, I am willing to pay the extra fee that you will charge to do this.

Yesterday, as I returned the paper work for NO flu shot, I asked about the Doctor visitt. “Well, she did not want to leave the care home, and then she did not want to exit the vehicle.” All that was old news, so I asked, “How did the Doctor visit go?”

The care giver stated, “When she saw the Doctor she broke out in a big smile and seemed happy to see him.  Her blood pressure and pulse was excellent and her heart was also pumping great for her 99 years.

Next the Doctor decided to give her a FLU SHOT.  Well your mother did not like the Flu Shot, and she PUNCHED the Doctor!!”

When the girl told me that, I laughed and said, “That sounds like mother.”

All her life, Mother has always been sweet, cooperative and accommodating. She has never been violent except when she was punishing us as children for something big we had done such as telling a lie or worse.

In her dementia years, she has let it be known if she is not happy, and there have been times she has shown her displeasure with a good SLAP at her attendants.

Perhaps in her thoughts, she is punishing one of us for disobedience. Who knows?

In the recreation room I held mothers hands as she was sleeping in the big overstuffed chair. She tried to open her eyes, but she could not focus. I kissed her good bye and left.

The girl who usually cares for Mother, loves her dearly, and asked me to write a permission letter so they can take her photo and put it in the Local paper when she reaches Happy Birthday 100 on December 30, 2011.  I will do that and Mother will be pleased!

image courtesy photobucket.com