My brother called me this afternoon with an update; Mom has a bowel obstruction. They actually removed a lot of fluid from her stomach (via NG tube), and of course, it goes without saying that she's remaining in the hospital.
I called Mom this afternoon before I went to Adoration. She sounded very weak...I've never heard her sound like that. She is very dehydrated, and said that they'll get the CT Scan results back on Monday; then they'll be able to decide what to do about the obstruction. In the meantime, she's on IV fluids and nutrition.
I asked her if a hospital chaplain has been to visit her. She had no idea what I was talking about, so I rephrased the question: Has a priest been by to see her?
No.
Would she like a priest to visit her? (I was keeping the language very simplistic...she's very confused).
Yes, she would like a priest to visit.
So I told her I'd make some calls, and she was happy with that.
I called the local parish. I'm not sure if she's a member there officially, but it's the nearest Catholic church and she does attend Mass and other events there on occasion. They are unfortunately not open on Saturdays, and I didn't feel that it was proper to call the emergency line; from what I can tell so far, Mom is very sick, but stable.
So I called the hospital and found she wasn't even on a list, so I had her listed a Catholic, that she would like to recieve the Sacrament of the Sick, and listed her parish as the local one. The next time a priest comes by, he'll know to go up to her room. My guess is that they are there on weekends, Saturday or Sunday after Mass, or both.
Thank you for your prayers.
5 comments:
A bowel obstruction can be very serious. If she wants to see a priest I would call the emergency line before the snow gets any worse. Or, call your own priest.
She needs to have the sacrament of the sick post haste!! Don't worry about "bothering" a priest - that's why they get the big buck. LOL
I would second what Adrienne said. You did the right thing by getting her listed as Catholic, patients entering a hospital from emergency care often fall through the cracks as far as getting on a visitation list. Unfortunately with the HIPAA rules now it isn't always easy for a parish to find out who is hospitalized in order to bring them Communion. Typically, on a Sat. eve or Sunday, it will be a deacon or EMHC bringing Holy Communion unless it is made known that the patient wishes Confession and/or Annointing of the Sick.
I will keep on praying for her.
Thank you.
I called the parish and left a message at the emergency #.
I know at my own parish, the priests are often at the hospital on Saturday afternoons before Mass and Sunday afternoons after Mass. Or earlier (large parish...we have Mass until 1:15, typically, but we have several priests)
adoro-
My prayers are with you and your mother today.
Adoro: I'm glad you followed advice already given here and left the info at the emergency #. I know why you didn't the first time. It's tough to face that it could be urgent. Better to be safe then sorry. I'm still sorry I neglected to get my Mom, brother and other relatives the Sacraments before they passed. It's a lot of guilt to carry around. I'd hate to see that happen to you.
Prayers here too!
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