My Mom Fell Outside in the Snow and Almost Died
By Nelda Hoxie
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
United States
January 2, 2016 9:34pm CST
Tuesday morning was icy and snowy here and my Mom made the unwise decision to go outside to feed a stray cat. She fell and was on the ground for a long time. We have no idea of how long. By the time I found her, her body temp was 74 degrees. Anyways, she is on the mend after a few days in the ICU. The hospital has an acute care center for elderly patients - especially those prone to falling. She isn't happy there, but it is for her best interest. She says she will consider wearing a LifeAlert pendant. Believe me, if she wants out, she has to wear one.
14 people like this
15 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Jan 16
hi@NeldaHoxie Im so sorry to hear that your poor mom hope she gets better soon that was an aw ully low temperature she is lucky to b e alive wow m appse is on the mend
5 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
The head of trauma said he had only seen one or two people survive that temp. It was touch and go for over a day!
3 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Yes the doctor said he didn't expect her to live. He has only seen a few people survive. At 88, she is very lucky
2 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Yeah, if she had been wearing one, it would't have been so scary. She would have had immediate help.She did't break anythin which is amazin.
3 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
3 Jan 16
Sorry to hear about your mom, I hope she does start to wear one.
2 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Thank you. That will be part of the deal to leave rehab.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471968)
• Switzerland
3 Jan 16
@NeldaHoxie I agree, I have missed the last step of our stairs the last day of 2015 and I have hurt a knee.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
4 Jan 16
I'm so glad your mom survived. Those alert necklaces are critical, but for some reason, some older people won't use them. My neighbor refused to wear her's and my mother-in-law wears one, but won't use it when she falls!
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
4 Jan 16
@NeldaHoxie You can insist they wear it, but you can't make them push the button!
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
4 Jan 16
I think it's seen as an acceptance of frailty and that scares them. However, it really is a lifesaver. I feel bad that I did't try harder, but then I realize that there's not much else I could do! She just wouldn't wear it.
3 people like this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
We have that understanding. We had talked the night before that she should not go out early in the morning, because it was going to be slippey.
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
4 Jan 16
Older people are notorious for breaking their promises to their kids. We keep trying to show her why she should do things and then she makes up her own mind. Which I guess is her right. Still scares the crap out of me though!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
3 Jan 16
It sounds like she could have used one of those alerts a long time ago. Scary situation, glad you found her when you did.
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
Thank you for your kind words. We are trying to take care of her, but her poor judgement has caused so many problems.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
3 Jan 16
that must have been so scary. Hope she decided to wear that life alert and can leave the hospital soon
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
3 Jan 16
It was very scary, she was so cold and delerious.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 May 16
I was sorry to hear this when I read it back then. We are wondering where you have gone.
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
6 Jan 16
So glad you found your mum in time. My mum never fell in the winter but did go up the garden and fell once in the summer. My folks had an alarm, but memory problems meant that they would frequently forget to use it.
New tech. and the elderly often don't go
