By Elaine Rassel

I’ve been kept busy in what seems to be all day! There are quite a few helpers that are 7 to 7 other than the usual 3 to 11.
The weather has been so hot that I’m glad I have been inside. There hasn’t even been the early morning rains like what we had the week before Memorial Day. The early morning rains put a stop to mowing until it dried off. I guess unless you have ever mowed in these conditions, you don’t realize how many times the “deck” has to be cleaned for safety sake. When the clumps are blown off, they end up where grass shouldn’t be. Or else, the deck just gets clogged up.
I was surprised when Crystal (Stamer) came as one of my nurses. One day when I was on a walk, I saw Lisa (Gravenish). I thought she had retired.
I have occupational therapy that helps to get dressed for the day. This is something we take for granted unless a surgery or pain takes over. There are all types of modern “helpers” to help. A grabber can assist in pulling on slacks, or a sock helper is used for stockings.
The other therapy person/persons has these kind of exercises to strengthen areas affected by the surgery. Who would ever think it would be hard to lift a leg 2 inches off the floor? We try to get some pain pills before any of this therapy happens, but sometimes therapy come before the pills, and that is when it isn’t a good situation.
I have been going down to therapy room on East end of hospital and using a machine to “pedal”. After more than a hundred pedals, I go to a bed where all kinds of exercises are given. Then I walk the entire distance back to the West end of the hospital where Room 13 is! I still can’t believe I’m in Room 13!
After all this “out of the room” happened on Thursday I went to bed for a nap. I had had it. One hour later there was a nurse that came in that I hadn’t seen before. It seems they called for more helpers and unfortunately she answered the call! She came form the area and wanted to see if she still had “hospital” skills as she hadn’t been working there for awhile.
According to her, I should have been out of bed and sitting in the chair to wait for supper that was another hour off. No matter what I had just accomplished earlier, it didn’t make any difference. And, as soon as supper was over, we were going for a “needed” walk. I asked her when her shift was over.
She was going to leave at 6:30. (That was good news!) She was acting like I was a clinic patient that she was getting information from before the doctor came. I told her two doctors had checked the surgery area already, but no, she still had to check!
I can only imagine what an impression this “woman in charge” had on the other nurses! After three of her visits before supper, she went home and I didn’t get our walk!
I received news that there is another “J” on my list of health concerns. This one is a male, age 55, that has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. None of my “J’s” deserve to have the health they have. We never know who or why anymore. Seriously think about amending your ways. Don’t wait for the 11th hour.
The Community Food Board member had an appreciation, retiring party for member Sherree Ogren on Monday June 7. Sherree was one of the first on the Board when the Food Pantry began. Her help was appreciated.
I heard that the Soup Kitchen in Sioux City has been down on members eating there ever since the Warming Shelter was closed. People staying at the Warming Shelter would go to the Soup Kitchen and eat. Now they are back under the bridges, etc. and the Soup Kitchen is too far away to come and eat.
Amber, Gracelyn, Bensen stopped by Saturday afternoon. Gracelyn had a dance program she was in Saturday afternoon while she likes it, Bensen doesn’t!
It appears that Monday I’m going to Heartland Care Center for a short extended stay. The male studying nursing, says he hopes they are ready for me. (Not all nursing home patients are dull!)
Megan Bush works as a nurse here. I remember her brother that played drums while in high school. He brought back many superior ratings. He was good!
Keep in your thoughts and prayers those who have recently lost relatives or friends to death, those who are struggling with health problems, financial problems or who are finding it hard to shortening the distance and making amendments. Count your blessings.
I will close with this quote from C.S. Lewis, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”