Today I took my mother to the South African Embassy in Lisbon. We are currently living near Lisbon and she is selling a flat she owned in Pretoria, South Africa. The experience was far too overwhelming for her. She was shaking and just couldn't seem to handle the experience. She goes out very rarely now and it was hard to see her like that today.
She seems to move between her bed and the couch although I'm not sure whether it is out of habit or pure discomfort and fatigue.
My step-father and my mother bought a small-holding in my mother's home-town near Santiago do Cacem and they go there for the odd weekend or few days. We went there for a night on Saturday and my mother seemed to have more energy while we were there. We even went for dinner at the neighbours house and saw the Brazilian Samba singer 'Martinho da Vila' in Santo Andre. I asked her at several points during the evening whether she wanted to go home but she said no, that she was enjoying herself. I'm happy she had such a nice time, although half of me was hoping she'd say she wanted to home as I was tired and uncomfortable sitting on the grass.
She seems to move between her bed and the couch although I'm not sure whether it is out of habit or pure discomfort and fatigue.
My step-father and my mother bought a small-holding in my mother's home-town near Santiago do Cacem and they go there for the odd weekend or few days. We went there for a night on Saturday and my mother seemed to have more energy while we were there. We even went for dinner at the neighbours house and saw the Brazilian Samba singer 'Martinho da Vila' in Santo Andre. I asked her at several points during the evening whether she wanted to go home but she said no, that she was enjoying herself. I'm happy she had such a nice time, although half of me was hoping she'd say she wanted to home as I was tired and uncomfortable sitting on the grass.
After we got home from the embassy today mom went straight to bed and looked awful. She slept the rest of the afternoon and my step-dad came home about 18:30. I made dinner for everyone - roast potatoes and ratatouille. I sat on the floor next to her bed to peel he carrots and potatoes to keep her company (the onions and garlic burning on the stove in the interim!) What was lovely was that most of the produce came from the small holding in Santiago. I will try to up load some picture of the veges etc.
Tomorrow is pre-chemo blood tests and he hospital and I hate going there. My mother is currently being treated at the Capuchos hospital in Lisbon. The blood test place is a like a cattle market. Rows of people waiting with their arms out to be pricked. No screens or curtains or bedside manner. I should be very grateful though as the treatment she is receiving now is so much better than the majority of the world receive. Although the treatment she received at Tenon in Paris was much better.
Oh well, I hope everything goes OK tomorrow. Her veins are all porous and the nurses now struggle to find veins for her and have to dig around a lot. She has been doing this for 7 years now. What a strong lady. What a fighter!
Goodnight
AA x x x
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment