Mom was pretty busy entertaining visitors last weekend - starting Friday night when her sister Nancy came in from Florida. It seemed like everyone who visited was able to spend some quality time with her. She was sitting up and talking, even teasing people. We could see a little of the old Peggy coming through.
Not much has changed as far as her condition. She is still fighting the infections and making some progress there. She’s able to get up out of bed and use the walker some instead of the wheelchair, which indicates that she’s regaining a little strength. And she was awake more over the weekend. The confusion is still there, and still upsetting to her, but we're trying to help her work through it.
Please contine to lift Peggy in prayer.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Update 1/22/2009
This has been a difficult week for Mom, who has been very sick because of the two infections she has been fighting. She is starting to recover, but it is a very slow process.
The therapist will stop her therapy on Friday in order to have a week of observation to determine her progress so far.
Also, we and the nursing staff have seen a marked deterioration in her condition from last week. The doctor feels the confusion is coming in part from the infections. There is also the possibility that she has had one or more small strokes in the last week. She’s been sleeping more. She has been more confused about where she is, why she’s there, and where she used to live as well as some other things. She asks those questions, and it’s like she’s trying to make sense of her circumstances and can’t. And for the last few days she has said she wants to stop dialysis, which to us is a sign she is giving up. We continue to encourage her to do her very best at therapy so she can get back on her feet.
Please continue to lift Peggy in prayer.
The therapist will stop her therapy on Friday in order to have a week of observation to determine her progress so far.
Also, we and the nursing staff have seen a marked deterioration in her condition from last week. The doctor feels the confusion is coming in part from the infections. There is also the possibility that she has had one or more small strokes in the last week. She’s been sleeping more. She has been more confused about where she is, why she’s there, and where she used to live as well as some other things. She asks those questions, and it’s like she’s trying to make sense of her circumstances and can’t. And for the last few days she has said she wants to stop dialysis, which to us is a sign she is giving up. We continue to encourage her to do her very best at therapy so she can get back on her feet.
Please continue to lift Peggy in prayer.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Jan. 19, 2009
We went to visit Mom tonight, and because she had dialysis today we thought she would be pretty tired and lying in bed. However, we were wrong. When we arrived, she was sitting up on the edge of the bed very much awake. A few minutes into conversation, though, we realized just how confused she was about everything. And that's the way the rest of the visit went. We were surprised to hear her say that she knows she is confused, and it's very upsetting to her.
We received a call from the Home last night stating they had received test results which confirmed that she has a new infection called "c dif ", as well as the urinary tract infection. (This infection is highly contagious, on contact only, and recommendations are to sanitize the hands before leaving the room). The doctor feels that these infections and the renal failure are what's causing her confusion. Sometimes this makes it very difficult to carry on a conversation with her, but we keep trying.
As a matter of information, in case anyone would like to check out the Bretheren Home, their website is http://www.crosskeysvillage.org/. Also, Mom has a phone in her room (717) 624-5305, and she has her cell phone with her (717) 476-9152. Should you want to send mail, her room number is 4525, and the address is
Cross Keys Village, The Brethren Home Community
2990 Carlisle Pike
P.O. Box 128
New Oxford, PA 17350
If you would like to speak with any of us directly, our phone numbers are listed below.
Otis 717-476-9150
Mary 717-476-9147
Rita 484-695-6761
We received a call from the Home last night stating they had received test results which confirmed that she has a new infection called "c dif ", as well as the urinary tract infection. (This infection is highly contagious, on contact only, and recommendations are to sanitize the hands before leaving the room). The doctor feels that these infections and the renal failure are what's causing her confusion. Sometimes this makes it very difficult to carry on a conversation with her, but we keep trying.
As a matter of information, in case anyone would like to check out the Bretheren Home, their website is http://www.crosskeysvillage.org/. Also, Mom has a phone in her room (717) 624-5305, and she has her cell phone with her (717) 476-9152. Should you want to send mail, her room number is 4525, and the address is
Cross Keys Village, The Brethren Home Community
2990 Carlisle Pike
P.O. Box 128
New Oxford, PA 17350
If you would like to speak with any of us directly, our phone numbers are listed below.
Otis 717-476-9150
Mary 717-476-9147
Rita 484-695-6761
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Beginning Status 1/18/2009
Peggy Comstock, a.k.a. Mom/Grandma/Sis, has had increasing health problems during this past year. Early in December 2008 she took two falls in her home within a 12-hour period, both times requiring Otis’ assistance to regain her position. Because we were concerned about her safety, we spoke to her doctor who admitted her to Hanover hospital. This was to determine the cause for her instability and to get her meds regulated. However, once there, she began to rapidly deteriorate due to poor care, so we had her moved to York hospital where tests were run and some diagnoses were made.
The main diagnosis that she is now dealing with is a disease called calciphylaxis – a buildup of calcium in the bloodstream. She develops lumps under the skin around her abdomen and on her legs. This disease has the potential to shorten her life considerably and is very painful for her.
Also, her doctor felt that she needed therapy to help her build her strength and stamina, so we visited places where she could undergo rehab.
We brought her home from York Hospital on Christmas Day to spend time with her family; and after dialysis on the 26th, we admitted her to Cross Keys Village Bretheren Home for rehab. This facility has a very good reputation for care and for caring, and Peggy seems to like it there. They transport her to dialysis three times a week, and she has therapy five days a week. From what we witnessed this weekend, she appears to be regaining some of her strength.
Some of you have asked about the best time to call or visit. Our best advice is to do what suits your schedule. She has good days and bad days -- she even has good hours and bad hours. So it’s impossible for us to predict the best time for a call or visit. Just please don’t stop trying to contact her because she so enjoys the time spent with you in a visit or call. Please be patient with her responses. The tests disclosed that she has had at least two mini strokes. As far as we can tell, these have only slowed her speech some, nothing more. So it may take a little longer for a response from her.
As a final note, she has not lost faith nor stopped looking up. When the doctor told her she may have less than a year to live, her response was “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.” She continues to pray, and enjoys Bible readings. She is concerned that her actions now and in the future may not bring glory to the Lord that she loves so much. However, in her lucid moments, she is such a testimony to the One who holds her future. Please continue to lift Peggy in prayer.
The main diagnosis that she is now dealing with is a disease called calciphylaxis – a buildup of calcium in the bloodstream. She develops lumps under the skin around her abdomen and on her legs. This disease has the potential to shorten her life considerably and is very painful for her.
Also, her doctor felt that she needed therapy to help her build her strength and stamina, so we visited places where she could undergo rehab.
We brought her home from York Hospital on Christmas Day to spend time with her family; and after dialysis on the 26th, we admitted her to Cross Keys Village Bretheren Home for rehab. This facility has a very good reputation for care and for caring, and Peggy seems to like it there. They transport her to dialysis three times a week, and she has therapy five days a week. From what we witnessed this weekend, she appears to be regaining some of her strength.
Some of you have asked about the best time to call or visit. Our best advice is to do what suits your schedule. She has good days and bad days -- she even has good hours and bad hours. So it’s impossible for us to predict the best time for a call or visit. Just please don’t stop trying to contact her because she so enjoys the time spent with you in a visit or call. Please be patient with her responses. The tests disclosed that she has had at least two mini strokes. As far as we can tell, these have only slowed her speech some, nothing more. So it may take a little longer for a response from her.
As a final note, she has not lost faith nor stopped looking up. When the doctor told her she may have less than a year to live, her response was “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.” She continues to pray, and enjoys Bible readings. She is concerned that her actions now and in the future may not bring glory to the Lord that she loves so much. However, in her lucid moments, she is such a testimony to the One who holds her future. Please continue to lift Peggy in prayer.
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