D-day. This is it. I had to be there by 9:30 to start packing things up and getting mom ready to leave at the appointed time of 11:00 a.m. I needed one last training in helping her shower. I packed my bag last night since I will be there the next three nights and four days before a break where I can leave for any length of time. I am nauseous.

At 3:54 a.m. I got a phone call from HealthSouth. Mom had fallen trying to get up and use the restroom. She wasn’t hurt, but the nurse wanted to give me a heads up that she gets confused during the night and forgets that she can’t just  move around at will. Great. So then, of course, I was up worrying about mom falling during the night.

She was discharged at noon, following a few physical and occupational therapy evaluations. We went to her house and picked up her walker and took all of her belongings there. We then headed to radiation and lunch at PF Changs with Rick and Tyler and then back to the house for an appointment with the in-home nurse that will come once or twice a week. Mom still isn’t listening too well about not getting up and moving on her own, but all we can do is keep telling her and hope for the best. We can’t be attached at the hip 24/7. We set up the monitors, gave her a bell and the phone and have to hope that she will do what she needs to do to summon me for help during the night. I hope this works. It is heartbreaking.