Would You Like To Hear

[jennyjoan]

of a real frightening experience today.

[kvalidir]

Yes I would JJ, because my day has been 'cloudy with a chance of meatballs' tbh

[tonyav]

Go on then, jj. Lets hear it.

[marval]

It might help if you tell us jj.

[jakep]

Would you like to tell us of the experience.......

[Baldric]

Oh yes, I really, really would,

[-SharonA-]

Yes please.

[Zacs-Master]

Go on then (he said, tentatively).

[-Talbot-]

I was about to retire but now.......

[sanmac]

Well, I'm easily scared, so no, I'm not going to read it..So there.

[jennyjoan]

ok - made arrangements to meet niece of a friend who has dementia and in a home. Anyway we got to the home and I haven't seen her for about a year but find friend lying partially up/down. She hasn't spoke for about 4 weeks and no it is not a stroke. I started to talk to her and she opened her eyes wearily - you know opening and closing them but when she knew it was me - she became a bit more "aware" and when I sat on the bed she held onto my arm. Meanwhile niece was talking to her and between the 2 of us were reminiscing. Niece also played a song that the friend used to sing and I put the mobile phone to her ear. It was incredible - she started to say a few words of the song and was enjoying the conversation for what it was worth. We were there a good hour when she started to choke and choke - there was no alarm button per se so niece run out on the corridor screaming for a nurse. I am meanwhile holding onto friend who is literally gasping/choking vehemently - I didn't know what to do. Nurses came flying in then like a siren was going off throughout the care home and another 6 or 7 nurses came in - we were ushered out. The brought the oxygen and other aids - we weren't there. It took about 5 minutes (a long time to us) - meanwhile niece was crying and crying too. I just became numb - couldn't believe this was happening. After to-ing and fro-ing they got her choking to stop but wouldn't let us in (naturally) for a while. We got in but she was back to sleeping peacefully and so niece said a few prayers and we left.

I just can't believe this.

[kvalidir]

Oh Christ, I wasn't expecting that. So sorry JJ xxx

[Mamyalynne]

Very unsettling for you all, poor lady.x

[tonyav]

I can understand you ( and patients niece ) being scared, jj.
I would have been to.

[marval]

That is sad after she was responding so well to you and the niece. Hope she improves.

[jennyjoan]

niece and myself just kept saying what if she had died in front of us - myself not seeing her for a year.

We have made arrangements to visit next week. Maybe I'll refrain from playing Patsy Cline.

[jennyjoan]

I know we are past midnight but am still so upset re today. Niece and myself as I said are making arrangements to visit next week. Now niece had forgotten she has appointments next week.

But you know what I;ll have to get up way before that - just feel I need do - just to feel I have seen her again and that's she's ok.

Because there were only us 3 in the room - when Iwas sussing the body language of the supervisor, carers, nurses and whatever and their answers to us - I nearly got the impression - did they think we were trying to kill her. It all happened so quick. I'll definitely be up within the next week

[jennyjoan]

PS - she did have an "awareness" towards me - like I'm not just saying that - she and her family reared me from when I was 10 months and so a bond is there.

I nearly died myself - when I started to talk to her and she was trying to talk back to me but the most poignant thing was when she held on not to my hand but the length of my arm. I said would she like me to go back and it took all her strength to say "please" - so I'll be back. sorry for being so sad

[Mamyalynne]

I'm sure they didn't think that JJ , it's bound to have shaken you up of course.

Just be there for her when you can, like the friend you are.