Our Stubborn, Swedish Streak

September 4, 2008

Dear Family,

Do you know how cool mom and dad are? Right now, at this very minute, they are getting their Temple recommends renewed, even though they may never get a chance to use them again. Cool, huh?

Things have been kind of hard here in Snowflake the last couple of days. Mom is wearing herself out, and you know how stubborn she is. She won't admit that she needs help until she is about dead, so we haven't been able to do much for her.

Finally, yesterday, Aunt Linda and Aunt Sharon and I sat mom down and had a long talk with her about getting some help. We have been worrying that her pulmonary hypertension is getting worse. Saturday her lips were just plain blue, in fact they were almost navy, and she can hardly seem to get her breath. We told her we were afraid she would die on us if she kept on under the stress and strain of caring for dad all by herself. Of course, she said she was fine, but she finally agreed to let Aunt Linda talk to Uncle Alan about having a hospice nurse come in to see dad once in awhile, and maybe to let someone come and help her in the mornings to get him cleaned up and stuff.

Uncle Alan is a miracle worker. By afternoon he had a lady over to set up hospice visits, (a nurse twice a week and a helper for the other hree days to help mom clean dad up, or whatever she needs) and he had someone deliver an oxygen machine for mom to use. She finally checked her oxygen level, and it was only 75%! No wonder she was been so short of breath.

Today was a little better, I think. Mom wore the oxygen all day and she looked better. The nurse didn't come til late this evening, but she brought supplies that hopefully will make cleaning up easier, and the helper should come tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that they will be able to help mom out, and that she will feel comfortable with them. She sure hates to let someone else come into her house to do the things that she thinks she should be doing. She's got that Swedish stubborn streak in her, just like Grandma Johnson. Of course, none of the rest of the Russell women inherited that streak, did we? (You husbands just keep you mouths shut, please.)

Anyway, we are embarking on a new phase in this adventure, and it will be interesting to see how it works out. Thanks for all of your thought, prayers, and phone calls. Mom really appreciates all of your love. (But don't tell her I told you things weren't going so well. She told me last week that she really appreciated my keeping in touch with all of you, but to only tell you good things that happen so you won't worry about them. Sounds like mom, doesn't it?

I love you all,

Aunt Gale