Back to normal?

It's been almost a month since I last wrote about Sela's progress.  Taking care of her is easier now that she no longer needs to have dressings for her wounds, bed baths and such. The site on her foot is looking well, the ones on her thighs are still deep pink but the skin is smooth.  Social Services has provided us with an aid who comes twice a week for two hours.  The first time she came, we were totally impressed with her ability to find and do things with such ease.  It's amazing how Sela and Loreena understand each other quite nicely.  Not being very attractive, she compensates with much compassion and readiness.  When I told SS that I wanted her back, the coordinator was taken aback and put her on our schedule immediately.  I guess others have rejected Loreena, but they don't know the kindness and willingness to help behind that unappealing face.

Two weeks ago Sela had a fall next to her bed.  She fell flat on her bottom and hit her head against a small table.  Ever since, she's had a terrible pain on her bottom and left arm.  We've tried Lidocaine patches and heat, but the pain persists.  I went to our doctor for my own 'ailings' and she said there's nothing much that can be done for this... The SS coordinator, who's a registered nurse, told her to take Arthritis strength Tylenol, and that seems to help her.

Yesterday the Sears repair man was here to fix/replace the garbage disposal and as Loreena was here too doing some house chores, Sela decided to go out on the sun room and lay on the sofa, all by herself.  I was tutoring but had come down to attend to the service man and found her there with a horrible headache.  I have often spoken to her about her choices and the consequences, and she just looks at me like I'm talking about someone else.  Since she had taken the Tylenol a short while before that I gave her some caffeine and asked Loreena to sit with her.  As soon as I came back upstairs, she asked Loreena to continue with what she was doing, that she did not need anyone watching her.  "Oh, no, Mrs. Gomez, your daughter told me to sit here and watch you and this is what I'm going to do."  So after a while, she took Sela back to her bedroom and made her lie down.  Eventually, the headache went away, Loreena left and so did the service man with $300 in Sears' pockets for a new garbage disposal.  Thank God for credit cards!

I must add that the last time the aid was here she had her hair done and it looked quite good on her.