It’s 1:39AM. I just got done taking care of Pops poop. I got off work. Made a quick orange juice run, and was home at 5:30PM. Finished turning, cleaning, feeding, distributing medicine, emptying the catheter and ostomy bag, plus chatting with dad at 7:30PM. I felt like my stomach was devouring me. So, I quickly warmed up some food and smiled at the antics of my whimsical daughter. She has a natural ability to add air into the room. It’s an extraordinary gift. I was in the tub soaking and eating dinner by 8PM. Pausing between bites to respond to my husband who was passionately discussing something. He passionately discusses everything and I love him for it most of the time. By 9:00PM, I was stretching and meditating on scripture. I slid under the covers at 9:15PM. Rubbed my husband's arm as he kept talking to me. Reminded him to turn Pops (He turns my dad at 9PM every night.) and I dove into a deep sleep. Pops called me on Alexa at 9:35PM. Let me type that again. Pops called me on Alexa at 9:35PM. I opened my eyes. My husband’s eyes were waiting. He said, “Your dad said his poop bag may be leaking.”. Internally, I groaned. I was tired and I knew I had to turn Pops at 12AM. I made a decision that I later regretted. I told my husband, “Tell him I’ll check it when I turn him.”. Then... I slept. It was a fitful sleep. Pops kept calling. I began to hate Alexa. When I woke up at 11:25PM with a call from my daughter, I answered groggily. She let me know that unfortunately, Pops bag didn’t just leak. There was poop EVERYWHERE. I had given him Miralax earlier and evidently it worked too well. Because of an agreement with my husband, I had to ask our daughter to leave the room. Hubby and I agreed that our daughter would never need to see Pops private areas. This was for her sake and Pops. I briskly began cleaning Pops. Using saline to clean his stoma and the wound site for his catheter. My dad had to have been extremely compacted because the ostomy bag was full. Poop was up his shirt, down his back, and some even came out the traditional way. As I cleaned up Pops I reminded him that this wasn’t his fault. I distracted him with jokes and memories we shared. Our relationship consisted of this year he’s lived with us. This year of his spinal cord injury. This year he’s accepted that he is Quadriplegic. So the memories were mostly ‘quad’ jokes and lessons learned. We cackled about the bowel program I had to do before he got the ostomy bag. He cried tears of laughter when I mimicked how I used to cry in between the three hour bowel program (It really took me three hours!). I cleaned Pop’s whole body and carefully checked his sacral wound dressing to make sure it was clean with no poop debris. Afterwards, I sat on the floor for a moment thinking how lovely it would be to have a warm Peppermint Mocha made with oat milk from Starbucks. As I reflected on the yummy beverage my mind wandered to thoughts of Miralax. I thought about how it pushes everything out in an explosive way. Although, I am thankful for its effectiveness, it was too much at one time. Would have been better if it loosened Pops stool over a period of time. Take a minute to think about that: It was too much at one time. It would have been better if it had worked over a period of time. That’s like life. We always want things to happen right now. Immediately. But we can’t handle the poop that comes from that instant_____________. Most of the time I want it now because I’m tired of what now feels like but I really need to experience the process of this right now journey so I don't turn the situation into explosive poop. Hhhhmm.. the things I learn from poop. Side Note: We are trying to get Pop's wheelchair accessible van. We’d love for you to help us by praying or giving towards the cause. If you know other ways we can get the van please let me know. I believe the answer is in the community. Fundraiser 4 Pops
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