Here's an interesting change in what had become the usual thing
My very ill neighbour, P, the one who has been rushed off to hospital more than a few times lately, is doing better. She is still very ill and dying, but she has been home now for a full week, with no sign of an ambulance. I haven't been home the whole time, so maybe there have been district nurses and her carers visiting, I just haven't seen them.
Here is the biggest change; yesterday, P used her walker to make her way around to my front door to hand me a note, asking would I please come to her flat at six pm to help her with something.
Voluntarily leaving her flat, using the walker, to ask for help!
I was very surprised and told her so, since she managed to get up my porch steps as well. There is a hand rail of course, but this woman has legs as thin around as my wrists, no muscle at all to support herself with.
Anyway, I went around just before 6pm to help her. She wanted to phone and book a taxi to go somewhere this morning. She is unable to speak more than a whisper because of the cancer in her throat, and the whisper is very hard to understand as well, so she writes everything down now. So I phoned and booked the taxi, making sure they understood that she is unable to talk and that she wished to go to her bank and have the driver wait to bring her home again.
P is getting out and about! This is wonderful to see.
I imagine it is very hard for her to do this, but she seems to have gained a little more determination since her last stay in hospital.
I'll be watching out for the taxi at the appointed time to be sure she manages, I'll just hang around watering my garden at the time, not obviously watching and then I'll watch to be sure she makes it home again. I had planned to go out myself this morning, but my things can wait until this afternoon.
**Update: the driver was a lovely older gentleman who helped P from her door into the taxi and when he brought her home, supported her again, to her door and inside to her chair.
Here is the biggest change; yesterday, P used her walker to make her way around to my front door to hand me a note, asking would I please come to her flat at six pm to help her with something.
Voluntarily leaving her flat, using the walker, to ask for help!
I was very surprised and told her so, since she managed to get up my porch steps as well. There is a hand rail of course, but this woman has legs as thin around as my wrists, no muscle at all to support herself with.
Anyway, I went around just before 6pm to help her. She wanted to phone and book a taxi to go somewhere this morning. She is unable to speak more than a whisper because of the cancer in her throat, and the whisper is very hard to understand as well, so she writes everything down now. So I phoned and booked the taxi, making sure they understood that she is unable to talk and that she wished to go to her bank and have the driver wait to bring her home again.
P is getting out and about! This is wonderful to see.
I imagine it is very hard for her to do this, but she seems to have gained a little more determination since her last stay in hospital.
I'll be watching out for the taxi at the appointed time to be sure she manages, I'll just hang around watering my garden at the time, not obviously watching and then I'll watch to be sure she makes it home again. I had planned to go out myself this morning, but my things can wait until this afternoon.
**Update: the driver was a lovely older gentleman who helped P from her door into the taxi and when he brought her home, supported her again, to her door and inside to her chair.
.png)
Good news about your neighbor--you're a mensch, River!! (Look it up.)
ReplyDeleteA mensch indeed, a very caring person of great integrity...seems to fit.
ReplyDeleteYou are a good neighbour.
ReplyDeleteYou are a most excellent neighbour. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe poor soul...it's not a life, is it?
ReplyDeleteShe's lucky she has you nearby...someone who cares. Good on you, River. :)
You are a caring neighbour, glad she is getting about but is she putting her house in order as she was going to the bank
ReplyDeleteMerle..................
fishducky; she needs someone, her family don't live close by, one is in Queensland. I would hope someone does the same for me when I am no longer able to do for myself.
ReplyDeletejoeh; thank you.
Delores; I do what I can.
Elephant's Child; I try to be, without being a nosy busybody, which I think is why she doesn't call on the other two neighbours anymore.
Lee; I never think of myself as caring, or good. I just treat people the way I would like to be treated.
Merle; I thought about that too. I hope she is just getting monthly expenses, like for cigarettes etc.
This story warmed my heart! She's so lucky to have a neighbour like you. :-) x
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I was home when she came around, five minutes earlier I wasn't.
DeleteWhat a good neighbor you are!
ReplyDeleteMostly I like to keep to myself, but if someone needs help, I'm there.
DeleteYou are most certainly a good neighbour; I'd take you in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteThat's nice, thank you :)
DeleteYou are Queen of neighbors. People like you who help their neighbors are very special. I love you, love you, love you..... because my neighborhood is caring like that too. I am the oldest person in the neighborhood and I believe they have formed a little pact to watch after me. Although I don't need their personal help
ReplyDelete(thank goodness, so far) They watch and make sure someone sees me or my dog each day. This means a great deal to know that people are so caring and that is how I know this poor dear lady with cancer truly appreciates what you are doing for her.
I don't keep an eye on everybody, but I do know which ones are in poor health and if I can help, I will.
DeleteYou're a very kind soul, River.
ReplyDeleteI wish more people watched out for neighbours these days, there seems to be so much disconnect.
And, perhaps the taxi company chose the old gent to be her pick up for the morning. There doesn't seem to be so many patient taxi drivers these days either.
I spent a lot of years being disconnected myself, but things have changed gradually. I've always been one to watch out for elderly people and there are more than a few here. I like to think someone will look out for me when I get old.
DeleteI believe the taxi company did choose carefully, they knew immediately who I was calling for, so I know they have helped her before.
This post started out good and just got better. Thanks to both of you.
ReplyDeleteand thank you. The good works you do are an inspiration to me and all who read at your site.
DeleteNice when things go well.
ReplyDeleteGail; welcome to drifting. I do like it when a plan comes together.
DeleteYou're a peach! :) I hope Mrs. P appreciates you.
ReplyDeleteP can be a prickly person, but I don't get offended as some other neighbours have. I know she is in pain and embarrassed by her inability to talk, so I stay patient just as I always did with elderly customers at the checkout.
DeleteWhat a spunky lady! You are a blessing to her.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised she had this much spunk, 8-10 days ago I could have sworn she wouldn't make it home from hospital. I haven't seen her leave her flat in months and suddenly she is walking to my door! she's a tough cookie.
DeleteWhat a survivor. She seems to have the will to go on. Do what you do with good grace and let nature take its course. Re taxis, no guarantee a taxi will turn up here even if booked well in advance. In fact here, there is not much point in pre booking, I think. Adelaide's taxis seem altogether kinder.
ReplyDeleteAndrew; I heard previously that she wants to die, but that doesn't seem to be the case now. I'll just keep helping whenever I'm needed.
DeleteAdelaide's taxis are good, harder to get one around Christmas/New Year though. Even with booking they can sometimes run late.
Good neighbors are as valuable - and sometimes more so - as family.
ReplyDeleteMarty; that's for sure.
DeleteHi River,
ReplyDeleteWell done you. It's great that your neighbour has someone who can help.
:o)
Cheers
PM
Plasman; funny I don't see myself as a carer though. I just don't like the thought of someone needing help and not getting it.
DeleteI remember years ago phoning my mum at Christmas and not getting an answer for several hours, so I called the police in her town and sent them looking for her, in case she'd fallen or something. Turns out she was across the road having Christmas lunch with neighbours.