My Sister is in the Hospital Again and Needing Your Prayers

[deafmack]

Today has been (actually yesterday) filled with an event I didn't need. I took my Sister to the doctor and after we finished she rode Access (Transportation for the disabled) over to the local mall to do some birthday shopping for our Mom. Well she did not come home when she was suppose to. Access called and said she was not where she should be. I drove over to the mall and there she was sitting in her power chair totally unresponsive. I gave them permission to call 911. The paramedics came and transported her to the nearby hospital. I met her over there and was with her till 10 pm. She still has not responded and so is in the hospital. Fortunately, I have durable power of attorney so was able to make decisions for her and give the doctors the needed medical information. I will go back to the hospital tomorrow to see how she is. We don't know what happened or why this happened. It is so scary.
Now here is the kicker, we had to leave her power chair behind at the mall. They will only keep it for 24 hours and then they give it away. I am in contact with my Niece and her husband to try and get them to bring it home. If my Sister loses that chair she will be housebound. We need that chair home. That chair was paid for by Medicare and they will not replace it for several more years. The paramedics couldn't take it with them as there was no room. Access refused to bring it to our home.My Sister will be devastated if we lose that chair. Please pray for my Sister and also that we find a way to bring the power chair home, so my Sister can have it to use when she is well again. Of course the first issue is that my Sister gets well soon and secondly the chair.

[Becky Stevens mom]

Oh no! Of course I will be praying for your sister. Im so sorry this happened:( Could the management at the mall try to be more understanding? Could they just try? Its the time of year where there is supposed to be goodwill towards one another. I hope they dont give away your sisters chair. Im sure they can find a place to put it for a few days until someone can go retrieve it.

[sam1nat2]

I'm so sorry!!
Wow, what a cold hearted mall:mad: If they will "give" it away, why can't someone just come "give" it to her?:mad:

[shekov]

I'm praying for your sister and your family.

I can't believe the mall would be so totally heartless.

I would call local delivery van companies, florists, courier services...anyone with a van and explain your situation. The mall may not have a heart but I'm willing to guess that SOMEONE out there would be willing to do a good deed for a family in need of a little assistance.

[bgallini]

That is scary. Have they figured out what happened? And how is she doing now?

I hope you can get the power chair back. I like the idea of asking a local company with a van to help you out. But definitely talk to the mall again if no one can get there today. They can't be that heartless! It's not like it's just abandoned. They know who's it is.

[sooz]

If you could contact the media via the local tv news, I bet there would be a way found to get the van. I hope your sister recovers soon. How frightening. It is good you can make decisions for her.

[liasmommy2000]

(((HUGS))), I hope your sister is ok.

Good luck with the wheelchair. Where are you located? Maybe someone here can help out. ITA with trying the media etc.

[Marie4Julia]

It may be worth it to call the power chair company that provided the chair. Your sister's sales rep may be able to send out a service truck to pick it up. I hope she is doing better.

[Michelle (IL)]

If you could contact the media via the local tv news, I bet there would be a way found to get the van.

That and I bet the mall would then be a little more willing to help out by storing it until it can be retrieved. I will keep your sister in my prayers for a quick recovery.

[deafmack]

Thanks everyone. My Sister is now home and recovering and the chair has been rescued. I really appreciate all of your kind thoughts. I know you would understand.

[bgallini]

I'm glad it all worked out and your sister is doing ok.:)

[Heather(CA)]

Thanks everyone. My Sister is now home and recovering and the chair has been rescued. I really appreciate all of your kind thoughts. I know you would understand.

Sorry I didn't see this until now, I'm so happy she is OK :)

[deafmack]

That is scary. Have they figured out what happened? And how is she doing now?

I hope you can get the power chair back. I like the idea of asking a local company with a van to help you out. But definitely talk to the mall again if no one can get there today. They can't be that heartless! It's not like it's just abandoned. They know who's it is.

Well my Sister is home. There are definite changes in her cognitive function. She has no idea what happened and I haven't figured out if that is a good thing. From what I can figure, she started to get a "hemiplegic migraine" and took her meds to stop that from happening. She forgot she had taken the med and did it again a few more times, thus overdosing on her meds. It was not done intentionally but to prevent that from happening again, I will make sure she only has one dose of the meds on her at any one time. She has no idea what happened. I was so glad I was with her when she was in the hospital because several mistakes were made that I was able to catch. Of course there are definite changes I will give her some time to recover and if I don't start seeing an improvement over the next few days I will notify her neurologist. All I can say is that with the HIPPA Laws it is a huge benefit that I have Durable Power of Attorney for her. The DPOA gives me the power to make decisions for Karen at all times even at times when she may not like it. Believe me it has really helped.
The chair is home as well. It came several minutes after Karen came home. The chair is custom made for her so losing it would not be a good thing at all. Everyone is right. Only allowing 24 hours to pick up something like a powerchair is not fair. Fortunately we were able to pick it up but what would have happened if we weren't? There has to be a better solution to prevent that kind of thing from happening again. What would have happened if it was something like an insulin pump? The thought just plain scares me. The important thing is that my Sister is home. Secondly, we were able to get her chair home as well. For those thing and all of everyone's sweet thoughts and prayers I am very thankful.

[goochgirl]

Glad to hear all worked out with her chair, and your sister is recovering. FYI, when I was working in a medical office there were often members of the Mormon church who would bring people in for their appointments when they would not be able to get there otherwise. Its part of their year of service for college age kids. In an emergency like this one, you might call your local Mormon church to see if they could get some kids on it.

[Beach bum]

Glad everything worked out. Your sister is very lucky to have you!

[MReinhardt]

I am just now reading what has happened. Unbelievable the mall would just disregard someone's power chair, knowing its their way of getting around. Maybe talking to someone at the Mall top security & management would help change things.

I dearly hope your sister is doing better by now. You can surely tell you deeply care for your sister. I'd be proud to have you as a sister anytime!

Glad you got her power-chair back, and certainly glad Your sister is back home! I certainly will keep you both covered in prayer.

[valerie k]

I think you should name the mall to us, and give us a phone number to contact someone.... :mad: I could use a vent for my frustrations!

Im so glad she is ok. that must have been so scary. Im also glad you have the power to help her. Prayers continued to be sent.

[shekov]

So glad your sister is home. I've been thinking about her and hoping she was OK. Do they know why she became unresponsive? Nothing serious I hope.

[GaPeach]

Just reading this. So glad that the chair issue was resolved.

Glad your sister is better and the "reason" was discovered. I am sure there will be a few delayed after effects of the meds, but that should resolve itself as well.

Also, it reminds me that my sister-in-law and I need to act immediately on the DPOA for my mother-in-law. I take her to all medical appts and the doctors share info with me. But if she is incapacitated, that will be another issue.

[deafmack]

Boy do I feel stupid. This morning I went through Karen's waistpack which she wears when she goes out. I was going to add only one dose of the migraine medication thinking she had taken all of the migraine medicine she had carried with her, but the migraine meds were still there. I had listened to the doctor who had told me her med levels were really high. I want to go hide my head in the sand.
Anyway, I got on the Internet and I never knew this but do now.
With Hemiplegic Migraines, the person can actually lose consciousness in varying degrees even up to a full blown coma for hours, days, or even weeks at a time. Hemiplegic migraines are extremely rare so most doctors don't even look for them or know how to treat them. They just found out this past year that it is a genetic defect. I now know that is what happened to Karen this week and even I didn't know this fact about Hemiplegic migraines. The last time had to be last June when she was out for 5 days. I still feel really stupid though.

[MReinhardt]

Oh..dont feel stupid. Your being educated. There is no way for you to know every thing about your sisters diagnoses! Your still a good sister no matter what! Please remember that!

[deafmack]

thanks for the kind words but I am her sister. We are identical twins. But definitely learn something new everyday. :)

[MReinhardt]

thanks for the kind words but I am her sister. We are identical twins. But definitely learn something new everyday. :)

Yes we do! and thanks!