Paw-Paw

So, at the end of October, on a Friday night I got a dreaded call..... my paw-paw was in an motor vehicle accident and was being transferred from Cullman Regional hospital to UAB here in Birmingham. The doctors stated, according to scans and images and other testing, that he had broken his neck in 2 or 3 places, had a piece of glass in his right ear drum that was making his ear swell. He had some minor bruising and cuts else where, and some other minor things. So, my mom, brother and I go to the ER at UAB and wait with my aunt (Melissa) and my paw-paw's girlfriend (Marjean). We find out, very early in the morning on Saturday, that they are going to admit him and do surgery on his neck the beginning of that week.

He got moved to a room and once he was settled, we were finally able to see him. He looked rough, which was to be expected. Melissa and Marjean stayed and we went home to rest. Later that day we visited him and he seem to be doing better. He was in a neck brace of course, but was not complaining of any neck pain. He was complaining of a headache, this was to be expected. Sunday morning I find out that he had to be restrained during the night because he supposedly became very agitated and angry and was trying to leave. Sunday afternoon while visiting him I noticed that although he was restrained he was very calm and relaxed. So they released the restraints and he remained somewhat relaxed. He was, however, a little confused; We thought this was normal and to be expected with the horrific trauma that he had just experienced. So he got moved to the down the hall to the other side of ICU where he would have round the clock watch. He was back and forth between the different ICU's on that floor for a few weeks. Then he was finally released to go home with home health and physical therapy!

Well, during all of this time at UAB, we find out that for some reason Paw-paw gave Melissa power of attorney (There is some bad history here with her----I will not go in to that). We, including her daughters, think this is a BAD idea!

After he has been home for a week or so we find out that he has fallen several times and Melissa (Who has now moved into his house to become his "caretaker") has had to call the EMT's out to pick him up because she can not do it herself.
Then he gets admitted to Cullman Regional due to a fall. He is released. This happened another time or two.... after about the second or third time of this, Cullman decides to send him to Decatur hospital psychiatric ward. (Now, he supposedly has been kicked out of the nursing home/rehab center in Hanceville due to outbursts that he had- from what I have heard from Melissa, he knocked over a worker and set off alarms trying to "escape"). He was released back home and I was told he was doing better.

Friday, January 13, 2012 I get a call that he is back in the ER because his blood sugar is in the 50's. (Now he was diagnosed -+ years ago with diabetes and has done a fabulous job of keep it under control with his diet. ) I found out today, Monday that he is being transferred back to Decatur Hospital physicatric ward. I am not sure why. I asked, "WHY?" and mom did not know. I called Melissa 5 times, yes 5 times and she did not answer and has not called me back.

Honestly, I don't feel that Melissa should have power of attorney. She can't take care of her self so how is she going to take care of someone else. It is weired that when we are they visiting with him, he seems to be ok, but when she is there with nobody else, he seems to have outburst, becomes angry and etc. Also, when maw maw passed away a few years ago, he made it VERY CLEAR to EVERYONE that nothing was to leave the house until he passed. Well, GUESS WHAT?!?!?! she has moved some of maw-maws things out of the house so she could move her things in..... Needless to say, her daughters and I are NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS AT ALL!!! We all feel that they see $$$$ when they look at him.....

There is more to this story, but right now I can't think about it.
Please, Please, Please pray for my family!

Thanks