We had a busy day yesterday. One of my oldies took a spill and spent the night on his floor, we found him in the morning. I cleaned him up, he flatly refused to get in an ambulance but would let the ambulance boys put him in the car and so we took him to the hospital. Poor old fella. Now he is back in the arms of the Institution. And the ER nurses are still a little bemused as to how I managed to swan in and out of the ER even though I am not one of the Relatives Only Relatives!! However the other side have got him now and I know I could have done better to keep him safe. He won’t be able to come home, not for a long time. He will have to go to one of those care facilities for the rehab. His life has taken another turn. All because of a series of un-noted incidents. Nothing happens out of the blue. There is always a warning that a period of flux is coming.
Somehow his phone was not charged or in his pocket and for some obscure reason his house phone was on the blink. He had a head-cold and a dicky knee that had been playing up. He did not think it was serious, so did not mention it to me. This was not my day to visit. You see how that series of benign details converged into one moment. So the knee went out, he fell, broke his femur, could not move, had no phones and had to lie on the floor, (he pulled the blankets off the bed to cover himself) and taking a deep breath he had stoically waited. Of course his daughter (who lives far away) calls him frequently, alerted us to his radio silence that morning and in we swooped. After a rotton night for the old fella.
But you can see how a series of minor incidents went uncollated, critical mass was reached, fate saw the gap, snapped the mat and down he went.
There is a perfect new moon outside my dark morning window and I have been staring at it trying to articulate what I have learnt here. Obey your instincts. If you feel even the tiniest bit of worry, go and knock on that door. I had had that niggly feeling. Be vigilant about upkeep in the house of your oldie. Check the phones yourself. Adopt a home alone oldie and mind him. Make a list and check it twice. Do not relax or ever think things are going well.
I spent so many hours in the hospital with him to make sure that they were taking him seriously and did not mistake his deafness for dopiness, that when I came out into the light, I was shocked to find that it was three o’clock in the afternoon and time to get back to the barn. I actually thought it was about eleven in the morning!
So at the end of the day I took the camera for a wee walkabout to reconnect. But even though the sun had come out, it was slim pickins’. The good news is that my dairy farmeress has started milking again. So I got some cow colostrum for the lambs ( in case Mama does not have milk straight away -again) I will freeze it in small portions. And soon I can begin to make cheese again. 
The garden is still waiting. 
One of Houdini’s chicks, and yes you are right, this little fella looks like another Rooster, as if I did not have enough of them!
Is this a sign of spring? Um NO.
OK that pic of Ton is not even funny, that is just plain weird! The old Codger loves TonTon ( the dog does the visiting with me) so I guess soon we will be able to test his training in a new environment. Because I WILL find a way to get that dog in to visit the old man. He can pretend to be a therapy dog. Maybe not in the hospital, though the image of me and my grinning fool of a dog being escorted out of the hospital by the security men does make me smile and would make the oldies laugh out loud!! Then purse their lips at such blatant rule breaking.
OK today will be another busy day to-ing and fro-ing. So I am going to be RUNNING!!
Good Morning
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
105 responses to “Be ever vigilant.”
Around here, you could tie a kerchief around his neck, and he could pass as a therapy dog. Sneak him in! Animals are such powerful healers.
Excellent idea, I shall give it a crack! c
The following line touched me … ” spent so many hours in the hospital with him to make sure that they were taking him seriously and did not mistake his deafness for dopiness” … Good Morning Celi.
Morning frank .. it is true though, people sometimes mistake oldness and deafness as a sign of decreasing acuity. And it absolutely is not. Plus this old fella is very bright.. c
You are a good person and a good friend. With all you do around the farm you still have the time to look in on oldies and care for them. The world is a better place with you in it!
And I think the picture of Ton Ton is funny, although a bit weird.
Ronnie
That weird look on the dogs face is a little unsettling!! c
Even though you think the photos were slim pickings, the photo of Ton Ton catching the frisbee is wonderful!
It is quite startling! c
Oh, your poor friend! I am sending along lots of healing vibes for him. Thank goodness he has a kind neighbor plugged into his network that found him in time, or it could have been far worse. Sometimes bad things happen anyway, no matter how many contingencies we put in place. Life is fragile and we are at the mercies of circumstance…Ton Ton and you will bring him cheer during his convalescence, which I am sure he will appreciate.
And the convalescence is the hard bit .. having no control over your life when you have been running it by yourself for almost a ninety years is very difficult.. c
Your poor friend but he´s lucky to have you. And I agree, trust your instincts…maybe you could get TonTon a white coat and a stethoscope, round here no one would notice the difference!
Oh I should, that would be so funny, and dressed like that how could they even think that he is not sanctioned!! morning tanya.. c
What a wonderful neighbour you are, Celia. Perhaps he could have one of those SOS alert thingies to hang round his neck? I understand what you mean about the deaf and old not always being taken seriously – being both myself! That picture of Tonton is splendid – a miracle of frozen motion. Did you know that Tonton is a familiar name for Uncle here?
He did have one of those things but he took it off and cancelled the account as he said it was a waste of his money!! Uncle TonTon.. perfect! c
I hope your friend is OK – a similar thing happened with the old man who lives next to me recently.
It is one of those things that does happen, there really is no way to avoid it, I do like to keep the oldies in their own homes as long as they can and that is the risk, but if every oldie has a daily neighbour then that is better thank none.. c
Positive healing thoughts coming your way for your friend. I think your furry friend needs to pay a visit.
Thank you Bam, he is in surgery today, .. c
Wishing him the best. I guess his furry friend will have to hold off on his visit for awhile.
You are really a dear. I am in awe of how much you do Celi, on the farm and off the farm as well. He is so lucky you stopped by and took charge for the day. You obviously have a BIG heart and knowing there are people like you in the world makes me happier. Here is a link to a perfect disguise for Ton Ton http://www.activedogs.com/product.php?id=48. You are quite crafty…make that! 😉
I went and looked and a wonderful idea, esp the Working Dog Do not Pet bit!! c
Just very impressed with everything that you had to say today. You’re a very good person which is as rare as hens’ teeth, whereas Roosters’ teeth are ten a penny.
Morning Roger. I had to separate two roosters again this morning, I am fairly sure they have been knocking each others teeth out all night they are such a mess! c
You are good friend Celi.
Good morning (afternoon) to you too 🙂
Goodmorning/afternoon Giovanna!
Around here, all it takes is a phone call and a “Canine Good Citizen” certification to be a hospital or nursing home visitor. My Oldest has had two German Shepherds in the program for a while. Ton Ton should have no problem showing that he knows how to behave in public – he’s got better manners than most people I know!
Very sad to hear about your Oldster – a femur break is difficult. I’ll be sending good thoughts and prayers his way.
Well i shall look into that pronto, in fact The Old Codger and I were going to take Ton to visit some of his old friends in nursing homes and see how he went.. Though I took the dog into the feed store the other day and he wet his pants he was so scared. But he will go most anywhere otherwise.. This is a very very good idea and I really am going to look into it.. I think he could do it.. c
I’ve just laughed so much over poor Ton Ton in the feed store.
That’s exactly what my dog Sally did the last time we went to the see the vet for vaccinations……….. I had to ask for a mop and bucket before the consultation!
In this part of the world most institutions welcome carer animals; I regularly meet a woman who takes her dog twice a week to the local hospital (both of you need to be on a register)
I hope you oldie is more comfortable.
I am really considering finding this register now.. surely Ton and i can do this, as long as i carry my mop and bucket with me!! c
Quote … “a series of minor incidents …. fate saw the gap …. and down he went”. So well put Cecilia x a nice feel good yarn. Good health to your friend Thank you for your wise words about being VIGILANT with ones intuition. Love mc xx always meant to tell you; when I first met my husband in the pe office his female colleagues called him Ton Ton. What’s all that about handsome? ClinTON PilkingTON. Your dog has a namesake x
I hope your friend recovers speedily and enjoys TonTon’s visit. How could he not? And my wish for you? That you manage to give yourself credit for what you did, and give self reproach The Hand 🙂
Thank you kate, life throws curved balls sometimes.. c