What a morning!
By mamacathie
@mamacathie (3928)
United States
June 19, 2008 3:19pm CST
I had a big day planned all by myself and so much work to do and the phone rang! It was my 81 year old mother in law. She asked me if I could come and take her to the ER. I asked what was wrong and she said I have done something stupid and cut my arm and I'm bleeding all over everything. I was changing clothes as I was talking to her so I asked how to you cut your arm. She said she was changing a light bulb and fell. Well, I told her I'd be right there. I get over there and she has a 3-1/2 inch gash from her left wrist up her arm, her right elbow is bleeding and her right index finger. I looked her over and couldn't find any more battle wounds. I could fix the elbow and index finger but the gash on the left arm was to the bone and laying wide open. So I get her loaded in the truck and here we go to the ER. Now, I ask her how in the world did you fall to do that damage? She climbed in a chair and on top of the bathroom counter changing a light bulb! I couldn't believe she had done this. Now this lady is a "do-it-yourselfer" and I really do understand how she feels. I told her she knew better than to be climbing. She said yes, she kept hearing that little voice telling her not to do it , not to do it. I said yes, but you listened to that little horned feller on your other shoulder saying "Do it." " Do it." LOL She laughed and said yes. Well to finish the story. She had no broken bones, and they "super-glued" her elbow wound, and index finger wound, and 11 stitches in her arm and "super-glued" both ends of that gash.
Ok, she was find when I got her back home and cleaned up all the blood she had dripped. She was sitting down to rest and I came home. I'll be going back after while to do the things I need to do for her that she can't do for herself right now. It has been an adventurous day! God bless each of you!
5 people like this
21 responses
@Lock_Heed (210)
• United States
20 Jun 08
It's good to see such kindness. She reminds me of my grandmother, she has passed but, wow was she spryly!
Hope she's healing well, your a good person looking out for her.
2 people like this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Thanks for the encouraging words but I am not doing anything special just what families are supposed to do. God bless.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I am so glad that she didn't have any broken bones! That gash will take long enough to heal, but broken bones are so much worse! I'm also really glad that she has someone so nice to help her out and get her to the doctor when she needs it.
2 people like this
@Jemina (5770)
•
20 Jun 08
OH no! How in the world can she climb and change a bulb at her age? I know changing bulbs coulc be quite dangerous if you have to stand on a counter or a stool and if you lose your balance, down you go.
Anyway, it's good she didn't fracture her bones but those cuts from the bulb must be painful too.
My friend, Roger, fructured his wrist trying to do the same. And he is a man! Well, he tried to support his big body with his palm when he fell on the stool and that's how he got it.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
She is very blessed not to have gotten hurt any worse. She got the light bulb in and didn't cut herself with that, she cut her arms by hitting the door facing edge. It is a wonder she didn't hit the door facing with her head. We have a lot to be thankful for. God bless!
1 person likes this
@Jemina (5770)
•
20 Jun 08
Oh, gosh! I'm really thankful to God she got shielded from further damage in that case. Whew! What a mother-in-law you got! Very brave. My mother even when she was in her 50s never or I shall say chickened to stand on counters or tables to replace abulb. She would always ask my cousin for help.
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Glad your mother in law is okay and didn't break any bones. It never fails when we plan to do something that something happens that we have to take care of and gets us all off track. It's been that way this week for me being on vacation.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Bless your heart. You have had some kind of week. I hope your weekend is much better! God bless you!
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Is your week going any better? I am so thankful she didn't break any bones. Her guardian angels were working overtime. Thanks for the post and God bless you.
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
19 Jun 08
At this point I just have to laugh. I went for my yearly physical and had a pap smear done and they noticed after they did it they used an expired specimen cup, and so therefore had to have another one done while I was still there. I called my office manager today and told her I should have just worked this week! LOL
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182212)
• United States
20 Jun 08
It sounds alittle bit like what happened to my mother in law. She is almost 86 anyway she was garedening and got a nosebleed and had to take an ambulance to the ER. None of her children live very close to her, she said she tried to call a cab,but they wouldnt take her. She has other people she could have called, but she didn't. Apparently she felt she didnt feel she had to notify her children about this, my hubby was upset.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
I can understand why you husband was upset. she should have let y'all know. God bless and thanks and God bless.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
20 Jun 08
First of all I run from changing bulbs. I get vertigo and everytime I change a bulb its a fight to prevent myself from falling.
I planned a great day too. Then the rain came. From 7.15 am to now and its now 3.35 pm its been torrents here in Port of Spain. The traffic is a mindless chain of slow moving vehicles and my co-worker called from downtown to say he cannot get back to the office till 5.00 pm or thereabouts.
So much for planning great days !
As for light bulbs, I'd better try not to think about that ! I haven't changed one since last year so by now all of them must be close to changing time !
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
You do not need to be climbing with vertigo! That is terrible, I have it quite often. Thanks for posting and God bless.
@mcc371 (918)
• United States
19 Jun 08
What a day for you! I am glad to hear she didn't have any broken bones and that she was only cuts and bruises. It could have been way worse especially at her age and also if she had hit her head on the way down. Try to enjoy the rest of what is left of the day and be thankful for the way it turned out.
She will be sore and need some help for a few days but with all things it will heal. I am sure she is very thankful to have you around and in her life. Mine would never call me even if she was on fire. But it is another story.
God Bless you and your family
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thanks for the kind words and we are so thankful it wasn't any worse. I joked and told her this was not the "girls day out" that I really enjoyed. She said no, she didn't think it was either. LOL She is a spunky lady. Thanks and God bless you!
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
20 Jun 08
wowww... that must be really a morning for you... i'm glad that your mother in law is alright and nothing serious happens to her... she is really fortunate to have such a kind daughter in law like you... i can't imagine a 81 years old woman is trying to change the light bulb by herself by climbing a chair... it is too dangerous for her... thank God she still able to call you and ask for your help... i can't imagine if she fainted inside the house without anybody knowing... that will be really scary... anyway, i'm glad that everything is alright... praise the God... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Thank you for your sweet words but I just did what we are supposed to do. I am so glad I was here and didn't have a house full of kids as I usually do. We do thank God that she is ok. Thanks for the post and God bless you.
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Oh that could have been so much worse I am so glad that she is ok. She deserves 11 lashes with a wet noodle for climbing on the counter to change a lightbulb!! Thank God you were available to go help her to the ER.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
LOL Yes, I wanted to give her those 11 lashes when I saw what she had done. LOL Thanks for the post and God bless.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
19 Jun 08
You sound like a daughter-in-law to be treasured, mamacathie! Bless you for being there for your mother-in-law when she needed you. It is sometimes hard for us to realize that we have to be more cautious as we age about doing the things we normally have done. That was probably her thought process. I know that it is frustrating to me knowing that there are just some things I should no longer be doing at my age.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I know, I am realizing more each day things that I really am not up to doing any more but I am like her, I will try my best to do it. Thanks for posting and thanks so much for the precous encouraging words. God bless you.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Jun 08
mama cathie yyour mom and I have something in common. years
back I wanted to hang some draperies and did not want to
mess with the step ladder so put a chair on top of the
end table by the window and climbed up on the chair. that
horrid little voice on my shoulder said dont do that but
I did not listen. I stretched my arm a mite too far and
the chair slipped and so did I and came down through the
side of the end table. my leg was bruised from hip to ankle'and
my husband just kept on telling me I told you so. lol. I did
go to the emergency room as my husband was afraid I had broken myknee but no broken bones just horrendous bruises and swelling.
moral to my story is use the darned step ladder. lol.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Oh my! Your guardian angels were busy that day too. I am so glad that you didn't get hurt any worse. I am sorry but I had to snicker at your story. We can do some crazy things, can't we? Thanks for the post and God bless.
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
19 Jun 08
Sounds like you had quite the day so far. You know the funny thing is my granny and grandma are very bad for this. They are up there in age and they know they shouldn't be doing the things that they do but like you said they listened to the little red horned fella on the other shoulder telling them to do it just do it. However when one of them fall or they get hurt we always tell them you know you are not supposed to be doing that. If you need something done just give us a call and someone will come and help you. They always reply "it was something so simple though and I have been doing it for years. Even before your time." They sure do manke me chuckle but as they get older and another year older and so on I told them they gotta stop being so stubborn and just ask for help on certain little things. They are getting better but we are not all the way there yet.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I understand completely. She said she had learned her lesson so I hope she truly has. Thanks for posting and God bless.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Yes, she is a tough old cookie. Thanks for posting and God bless.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
20 Jun 08
She didn't like the needle either but she didn't pass out.. LOL She is doing great. Thanks for the post and God bless you.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
She will recover fine but learn her lesson? Not sure of that. LOL She is a tough cookies! Thanks for posting and God bless.
1 person likes this
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Wow it sure was an adventurous day. Thank god that she has someone like you to help her. I mean wow. I like to do things myself too and sometimes I do get hurt but I still keep doing things because I don't like to ask for help too much. I'm glad that it wasn't anything more serious and that she didn't break anything. Good luck to you and to her also.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thank you so much. I praise God that she didn't get hurt any worse. I do understand her wanting to do things on her own, we all do. Thanks for posting and God bless you.
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Oh So sorry to hear she got hurt, glad you were there for her, and got her to the hospital, glad she did not hurt herself any worse than she did. I know she should not have done what she did, but I do the same as she does at times, I am very independant, and a do-it-your-self-er-also.You are a very good daughter in law to take such good care of her like you do.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Aww! Thanks for the encouraging words but that is what family is for, to take care of one another. Thanks for posting and God bless.
@jesus777 (662)
• Bermuda
19 Jun 08
wow what a day you had and you are right your mother in law should know better but my mom is the same way thinks she can do everything herself she is only 61 though but she climbs ladders too change light bulbs and lets just sy she has dropped a few and the lamp shade that go on top too why do are mothers think there super women i understand they wanna save money and all but sometimes you need too call and eletrician or someone too fix things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Yes but we hate to give in to needing to ask anyone for help. I understand how she feels but I am trying to convince her to stop that and call me as soon as she needs something and I'll be there when I can. Not working very well. LOL thanks for posting and God bless.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I'm so glad your MIL is okay, she really could have gotten hurt. She certainly sounds like a spunky lady so I wish you the best of luck keeping up with her!
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
19 Jun 08
LOL, she is a spunky lady! She is hilarious and a HUGE hand full! I am so thankful she is ok. Thanks for posting and God bless.
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Wow, that was quite a morning to say the least. What an awesome daughter-in-law you are...I am sure most wouldn't be that helpful. I worry about my own mother. She is 74 and still climbs ladders and all the other things we worry about. then when anything does happen she doesn't tell me until after the fact. I always offer to help but I think she doesn't want to feel "old". I can understand but..... There have been a few times when she has had to call me and she always gets upset thinking she is bothering me...that upsets me more than her. I wish she would realize that she took care of me when I need her as a child now let me help take care her if she needs it.
