Guardian angels deserve a medal, too

[wiseheart]

I had a bad fright today. Mum wanted to go to the church to say her thanks for 90 years on this planet, and we decided that on our way back we'll go to Lidl and buy some groceries. Only that Mum didn't dare to eat or drink anything before we set off, since there are no public loos between our building and the end of our (short) street, where the church is situated.

We got to the church without problems, we spoke our prayers and started our return trip. Half-way to Lidl Mum suddenly stopped and began to lean to the right heavily. Before I'd realize what was happening, she gently - and I mean really gently, as if in slow-motion - fell to the ground. For half a minute or so she didn't react to me shaking her and calling her, just stared at me with frighteningly empty eyes. A young mother pushing a pram was just about to call Emergency when Mum suddenly opened her eyes and was with us again. We helped her to her feet - miraculously, she hadn't hit her head or anything, and even wanted to go to Lidl, after all that! Of course, I dragged her home, and she's been fine ever since, but I swore a solemn oath never again letting her leave the house without eating and drinking before.

Afterwards she told me that everything went black for her without warning, and she could feel her strength go out of her. This never happened before, although I'm quite sure that the dizzy spell was the result of low blood sugar and mild dehydration. Still, I nearly got a heart attack in those thirty seconds she wasn't answering me.

After this, I spent two and a half refreshing hours in the bank, battling incompetence and bureaucracy and unable to get any of the things done I was planning to do. So no, this was definitely not my day. But Mum's guardian angel deserves a medal, that's sure.

Comments

[meathiel]

Geez ... what a scare!
I'm glad she didn't hurt herself!!!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I could cry from gratitude, really.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I´d have been beside myself with fear in your place! Dehydration does that to old people! Your mother´s guardian angel has had his hands full!

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

Very scary! I'm glad she's okay, but she really needs to stop that not drinking silliness!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I was seriously pancking, I kid you not!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know, but it's hard to persuade a 90-year-old to do what you know they should. *sigh*

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell that is terrifying! Can you get her some industrial strength pee pads or is she already using such things? I wear them when I expect to be in a sticky situation (such as not wanting to use a public loo in covid times, or no loo available) to er... avoid sticky situations. I ain't proud! They've come in handy!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

She doesn't actually need such things; she's just afraid that she might.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Would it help to hold me up as an example to her? I don't need them either, but they are a handy back up. I've worn them to go clubbing when my clothes and corset were too much of a fiddle to wrestle in and out of, I've worn them in a tent in Ethiopia when I was too scared to go outside to pee because jackals were growling and snarling right outside, and I've worn them to Black Metal gigs in covid times cos I didn't want to pee in a public loo and risk catching covid! So yeah, you don't need them, but they are a secret weapon. Wear one to go to church if you don't want to risk infection in the public loos, take it off when you are home. It's not incontinence, it's gaming a tricky situation during a pandemic!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness — how frightening for you. I'm sure you are right and she really shouldn't let her blood sugar drop like that. I'm really glad she didn't hurt herself.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

glad she's OK but she should see a doctor anyway.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

Wow, how frightening. So glad she was ok.

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

This had to have been utterly frightening. I'm so relieved your Mum is okay. I could cry for you, it is such a scary thing to happen, and thank goodness she revived. You are most likely right, that she fainted from low blood sugar/dehydration. Hopefully Mum continues to feel okay. Sending love and hugs to you both.

[sister-raphael.livejournal.com]

My goodness! I'm so glad she came good. You're probably right that she was hungry and dehydrated. I'm so glad to hear she made it home and is better now.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Eeep! Maybe you could try her with a glucose sweet before hand if she goes out again. Some banks seem to know they have you by the neck and enjoy squeezing.

[aeris444.livejournal.com]

I'm truly relieved to read that your Mom is now feeling okay! I can't imagine how scared you have been! *hugs*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

H. and I will try to apply some gentle persuasion...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

So am I. This was a bit too close for my comfort.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

What for? To get told "you can expect such things at your age"? Because that's how doctors usually react to old people's problems over here. Not to mention the very possible exposure to covid...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

We've been well-protected, it seems.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you, we both appreciate the moral support. *hugs back*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It was apparently a minor thing — but a major scare for me.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

This time it was "just" a case of annoying incompetence from the bank's side. Not that basic good will would have helped with the results. *sigh*

I swore never to go out with Mum again without a big bar of chocolate in my pocket, just in case.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I was really scared. Thank God it was such a minor issue.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

oh, I'm sorry. I got stuck with an idiot doctor too and I'm not that old.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Hope your Mum is OK. Happy birthday to her.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

So glad your Mum is okay! My husband keeps hard candies in his pocket, as he has to also watch out for low blood sugar.