Bring On The Sun

A couple of days ago Mom finally woke up from her Post-Visit Recovery period and she has had two wonderful, wakeful days. Yesterday the Hospice bath nurse was here and, since Mom is always so wide awake after a full bath, as opposed to a smaller bed bath, we thought we’d try an experiment. So the nurse and the caregiver got her dressed, wrapped her in warm blankets and we wheeled her out onto the deck in the bright sunshine.

Mom had always loved to just sit outside in the warm sunshine and enjoy the sunny summer days in years past, but we were not certain if that would be the case anymore. We had suggested going out and sitting in her porch swing more than once, only to have the suggestion declined rather emphatically. We thought that, if she was already up and we just went there, then she might not object since the effort had already been made. I think sometimes that doing simple things is just too exhausting for her, but, other times, I think that it’s the process of even thinking things through with a brain that misfires at every other synapse that makes her so tired that she says NO without thinking about it.

I have to say, the clever ploy worked like a charm. She smiled as we went out the door and she oohed over the view and delighted in the few flowers that I already have out on the deck. The temps were in the mid to upper 70’s and there was a light breeze off the water, but she seemed quite content and even chatty, after her fashion. 

In fact, the plan worked so well that we are hoping to get her out on the deck, while we have some sun and unseasonably warm weather each day, if she will allow it. Fresh air and real sunlight never hurt a weary mind or body and its ability to delight and soothe a weary mind and warm that old body were quite obvious yesterday with Mom. And the gorgeous view didn’t hurt her eyes, either!

BRING ON THE SUN!!!