Mom news

[wiseheart]

My mother was attacked yesterday, not five meters from our front door. Someone tried to mug her (is that the correct word?) to take her handbag. She held on to the dratted bag, so the guy tossed her and she fell. Fortunately, two young men from the house arrived at that moment, and the guy fled.

Mom had a dislocated shoulder, a head wound that needed stitches and several smaller injuries. Not a nice thing for a 73-year-old with osteoporose (sp?) We spent a lovely 8 hours in hospital, where they stitched her head wound, relocated her shoulder (an extemely painful procedure, during which an already battered bone broke) and wanted to operate on her.

The doctor - an honest man - told us that the operation wouldn't improve her motoric skills in the affected shoulder *at all*. And that the broken piece would disintegrate after some time, without bothering her any more than the aftereffects of such a complicated operation would. So Mom decided against it and she refused to stay in hospital.

Now we are both at home - my boss offered me to go on sick leave with Mom, since we're having spring break in a week anyway - and she's taking it with astonishing courage. She still is in a lot of pain, and her right hand (unfortunately, her dominant one) is fastened to her torso, which hinders her in going on with her daily life a great deal, but she's coping admirably.

When I went to the grocer's, I could still see the big pool of dried blood where she was attacked. It was a frightening sight. I'm not a violent person, as a rule, but I could disembowel this guy with my own two hands. Alive. So that he'd feel some of the pain.

Comments

[nerwen-calaelen.livejournal.com]

*hugs* How dreadful! I hope your mom starts to feel better soon. It sounds such a horrific experience.
(tries to think of anything better to say)
*lots of hugs*
I wish there was somethign I could say or do to help. You just seem to have been through so much and more and more bad thigns to happen to you. *hugs*

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

God, I'm sorry! All best wishes for your mom's recovery - both from the pain and from the fear that must accompany these experiences. What a vile, senseless thing.

[dawtheminstrel.livejournal.com]

Oh Soledad, that's terrible! I know several people who have been mugged but not hurt and it was hard enough for them because it's so terrifying, but that your mother was hurt makes it all the worse. I'm so sorry. I understand the urge for revenge. Your mother sounds like a strong woman.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Knowing that you folks are out there and feeling with us helps a great deal indeed.

As for the trend of unpleasant things... how do they say? If it doesn't rain, it pours. Right?

[makamu]

*winces* It is horrible what greed does to people and if I only think about this happening to either of my great-grandmas pr grandmas, I almost have to choke. Good thing your mother is such a strong person. All the best from Germany to both of you *hugs*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I think the fear part is worse than the pain. Pain is... well, painful, but it'll eventually fade. But the fear. Poor Mom has been afraid to come home after dark for quite some time. As if she'd known...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. She is a strong woman indeed. She's had such a hard life, and now when she should be enjoying the fact that we are doing better and can allow a few things we couldn't before, something like this happens. :(

But we've been lucky nevertheless. She could have broken her legs, and then I couldn't have brought her home. Granny died nine years ago due to the results of a broken thigh - of course, she was 96, while Mom is "only" 73, but still. One working hand and both legs uninjured leaves her a certain amount of independence.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'll have to write a story in which a guy with this attitude dies a horrible and very messy death to get the impotent anger out of my system. That usually works.

And I love your icon! What's it?

MANY Hugs to you Both....

[jastaelf.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie, that is terrible!! I am glad she's (mostly) all right, but what a horrible thing to have happen!

She sounds very brave and fierce. I'm not surprised, given what we know of her daughter. You are both quite something, in all the best ways!

May she heal completely in ways the doctors cannot comprehend--and may you find an outlet for your fury. Some might recommend meditation--which never hurts, mind you!--but I would recommend finding a good kick-boxing class. :-) It has the good effect of allowing you to work out aggression AND learn how to defend yourself....

Any chance they will find this cretin who did this terrible thing??

Hugs,
Jasta

[skyfiery.livejournal.com]

*growls and snarls*

I hate hearing about these things happening, because I hate people who do these things.

*hugs* I hope your mother recovers quickly, and well.

In the meanwhile, maybe some arrangements on safety can be arranged with the two guys living near you?

Re: MANY Hugs to you Both....

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, this is a common enough crime. But usually they get what they want, without the old people getting seriously hurt. Mom just had bad luck.

And I usually write a story about the offender's horrible death. My personal way of dealing with impotent frust.

The really sad thing is, that this is a relatively safe environment. Things are really going downward here.

[makamu]

It is a screencap from "Hidalgo"-the first post LOTR film Viggo was in. It is about a horse race in the desert where a half-Native American cowboy (Viggo) is allowed to take part in with his mustang Hidalgo. The film itself is pretty straightforward and due to the constraints Disney put on it a lot of potential (actor and plot) wise is wasted. But they portray both NA (Native American) culture and Arabic culture beautifully in the limited space they have and all the actors really try what they can to make this film good. Especially Omar Shariff and Zuleikah Robinson are great. And he-whose-name-I-need-not-mention even learned Lakota (Sioux dialect) for it! And thus the Arabs became once again a model for Harad *gg*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. People who do such things aren't really people - they are worms from the most disgusting sort.

As for safety arrangements, this *is* considered a safe living area. With all those people in the ten-floor building you'd think thugs would be afraid of too many witnesses. This is the first time I've heard about something like this in our immediate neighbourhood, and we've lived here for almost 30 years!

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

That's horrible! I'm sorry to hear your mother was hurt - and glad to hear she wasn't hurt far worse (or killed).

I hope she heals quickly and completely.

[nerwen-calaelen.livejournal.com]

True, it doesn't rain but it pours. Well, I hope you're luck changes soon, you deserve good luck in things ofr a change.

[deborah-judge.livejournal.com]

That is so wrong. It makes sense you'd want the criminals tortured to death. I hope they're caught and put away, at least. Your mother sounds strong and feisty, and I'll be thinking of her.

[echoriath.livejournal.com]

*big hugs* Your poor mum! And poor you! That's horrid, and I'm with you -- I'd take a dull knife and carve him up slowly. I hope your mum feels better soon and you too.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

What a horrible and terrifying experience for both you and your mom! Creeps who prey on the aged (or anyone for that matter)are scum. I will keep you in my thoughts and pray for a speedy recovery for your Mom.

Hugs,
Mira

[eye-of-a-cat.livejournal.com]

What a horrible thing to happen. What kind of person would do something like that?

I hope she's feeling better soon - it sounds like both of you are coping really well considering how horrific it must have been, but it can't be easy.

[disthrainsdotte.livejournal.com]

I feel angry and worried. If old persons are attacked so close to their homes, then things have gone to far indeed. Give your mother a hug for me.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Alas, neither quickly nor completely is included in the prognose. But at least it seems there'll be some healing.

[dolamrothdame.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother, Soledad, and quite understand the impulse to violence. I hope that she heals quickly and painlessly. (Isabeau)

[archet.livejournal.com]

Sweet God! This is terrible and I do so hate that your Mom was treated so badly, but I'm glad that she's doing ok and that she wasn't hurt even worse than she was. I wish that there was something I could do for her, that I could do something practical for you but for now sending many good thoughts your way and many hugs will have to do. Do take care of her and yourself as well! *Hugs!* And keep us updated on how you guys are doing!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Isabeau. (BTW, I know who you are on LJ, hehehe.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Hugs are nice, thanks. Mom's really resilient, thank God, she's already walking around in the apartment, watering the flowers and all that, saying that it'd be much worse otherwise. *shakes head in amusement*

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I will.

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Oh you poor things! Thank the Gods, she's ok. Like you, I want 10 minutes with arseholes who pick on the elderly and then the undertakers can come in with a body bag.

What a dreadful fright you have both had.

[(Anonymous)]

That's terrible. I hope she can cope with the fear. My grandmother had lost her self confidence for a while due to health problems, she was too scared to leave her home and deteriorated mentally and physically in a very short time. It got better the moment she felt able to go out again, so do everything you can to bolster her spirits and get her out and about. Ich drück Euch die Daumen, daß es ihr bald wieder besser geht, und denke an Euch beide. Do write some gruesome disemboweling scenes, it should help a lot (and maybe it's fun to read).

Imrahoil

[circestale.livejournal.com]

Sorry about not commenting earlier, but I haven't really been around to do so. What happened to your mother is truly horrifying, and I hope the police can catch the bastards who did it. It does seem lately that the world is really going downhill. I hope your mother can recover from her injuries quickly, and without further complications.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Circe. I'm glad to see you around again. You've been so quiet lately, at least on the places we both visit, I was starting to worry about you.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Danke fürs Daumendrücken. Ich werde sehen was für Horrorszenen ich uasdenken kann für den Missetäter.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, we did. Fortunately, Mom's taking it amazingly well.

[disthrainsdotte.livejournal.com]

A hug is a good thing to share, as I see it. :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry, Soledad - your poor mother, and what a horrible shock for you too *hugs*

[jilba.livejournal.com]

From your next post on, it appears so. I am just grateful that she is healing well. no doubt you are too.