New Cheek and Chat

[Tasty Tidbits]

I feel the same Panda. A few years ago this was a vibrant place to come, with lots of activity and sharing. I really miss the interchange that there was between all of us. I think they have all moved to facebook now.

My mom had her needle biopsy yesterday. We are just waiting on news from that and then I will book my ticket and fly over. I expect to be away for a couple of months.

[Panda Rose]

I hope all goes well with her. its so worrying with an older person and living so far away. Im sure T will miss you but appreciates why you are going and will miss you. that time will be very precious with your Mum and I m sure you havent spent that much time with her for a very long time. I keep up with it as I read your blog. I find it very interesting - there are so many values which are the same within different religions. eg family values, how to conduct your daily life etc.
My thoughts are with you all.

[Tasty Tidbits]

Thanks so much Panda, that's so kind of you to say and of course your prayers and thoughts are much appreciated.

I think all religions are so fascinating and interesting and there are truths to be found in all of them, and similarities too. I find it profoundly interesting that all of the major religions of the world can trace their roots back to Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenants.

It will be nice to spend this time with my mom and the very least that I can do for her after all she has done for us in our lifetimes. It is a service of love and of gratitude I think.

[Panda Rose]

Any news about your Mum? when do you think you will be going out there?

[Tasty Tidbits]

She has an appointment with her Thoracic Surgeon on the 12th. We should know more then, and be able to make plans. It seems to be taking an awfully long time. I think the health care system in Canada must be in even worse shape than ours!

[duonyte]

Hoping that whatever the news, it is the best possible under all circumstances.

(I remember years ago speaking with a friend in Canada who had decided to attend nursing school, and saying something to her about, well you'll always have a job. I was thinking of my own sister, who is a nurse. She looked at me and said - no, this is Canada - health system does not allow for adequate nursing staffs!)

[Tasty Tidbits]

I know, it's deplorable! My daughter is a nurse practioner who works very hard. They had a lovely hospital in the town my mom lives. It was relatively new, having been built in the 70's. I was a candy striper there. It had a heli-port and everything, as well as a special wing for Veterans, and they have basically shut it down with only a skeletal staff. Basically it is just used to do blood tests and xrays. Other than that you have to go all the way to Kentville which is a good hour away to a brand new hospital which they built there about 10 years ago. Who has the time to go that far in an emergency?? AND, when you do get there it is so understaffed that you wait hours for treatment. People who live further down the valley than my mother have to travel even further, some as much as two hours for treatment. Its disgusting. I think they have shut down all of these smaller hospitals just so they could justify that money pit monstrosity they built in Kentville and now can't afford to staff properly!

Ok, off my soapbox now.

[Panda Rose]

But even when you travel to a " good " hospital, you are not assured of pod care. You really need a member of your family or a pod friend to look out for your. It's completely alien to how I was trained all those years ago, when nurses actually nursed.

[Tasty Tidbits]

I think it must be really difficult on people who have to stay in hospital that don't have family there to help out. With such short staffings it is no wonder people are not cared for properly. Very sad really.