Family stuff
Mar. 28th, 2006 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jmc_bksHappy dancing was done at my house last night -- fortunately I had the shades drawn, so no innocent bystanders were appalled by my dancing. The Biochemist emailed -- got a grant from the Komen Foundation! Woo hoo! Good things for her and her lab!
After the dancing was finished (it ended mercifully quickly, actually), talked to Mom. Her SO, who is diabetic, dropped a chain saw and gouged a hole in his leg that he didn't even feel. He's off work and at home, supposed to be keeping the leg elevated in order to avoid infection and promote healing; apparently diabetics are prone to infection and take a long time to heal cuts and wounds -- I had no idea. The doctor gave him pain medication, but he hasn't used it because it doesn't really hurt. I'm really concerned that he DROPPED A FREAKING CHAIN SAW and CUT himself, but didn't even feel it. Yes, he's an adult and if he's not concerned about his health (as evidenced by his complete lack of management of his diabetes) that is his business. But he's been my sort of stepdad for 20+ years, so I'm going to worry anyway.
Also on the Mom front, they've found a house for sale in their budget near Grandmom's and the favorite sibling (her sibling, I mean; also the branch of the family with my favorite cousins). It's only about 20 miles from her current house, which she'd sell, but those 20 miles are significant since she handles all of Mommom's paperwork, bills, medical appointments, grocery shopping, etc. She'll be closer to her brothers and sisters and her job, which will be good for her. I think Mom was worried about telling us kids that she was thinking about moving, but I only lived in that house for 2 years before going off to college, so I'm not attached to it. I haven't lived there in 15 years, I just visit. It's Mom's house, but otherwise not special to me. ::shrugs:: Now, the farm house we lived in for my middle school and most of high school years, I was very attached to that house and I still miss it sometimes, especially the sycamore tree outside and the long driveway and the old-fashioned doors and stairs.
After the dancing was finished (it ended mercifully quickly, actually), talked to Mom. Her SO, who is diabetic, dropped a chain saw and gouged a hole in his leg that he didn't even feel. He's off work and at home, supposed to be keeping the leg elevated in order to avoid infection and promote healing; apparently diabetics are prone to infection and take a long time to heal cuts and wounds -- I had no idea. The doctor gave him pain medication, but he hasn't used it because it doesn't really hurt. I'm really concerned that he DROPPED A FREAKING CHAIN SAW and CUT himself, but didn't even feel it. Yes, he's an adult and if he's not concerned about his health (as evidenced by his complete lack of management of his diabetes) that is his business. But he's been my sort of stepdad for 20+ years, so I'm going to worry anyway.
Also on the Mom front, they've found a house for sale in their budget near Grandmom's and the favorite sibling (her sibling, I mean; also the branch of the family with my favorite cousins). It's only about 20 miles from her current house, which she'd sell, but those 20 miles are significant since she handles all of Mommom's paperwork, bills, medical appointments, grocery shopping, etc. She'll be closer to her brothers and sisters and her job, which will be good for her. I think Mom was worried about telling us kids that she was thinking about moving, but I only lived in that house for 2 years before going off to college, so I'm not attached to it. I haven't lived there in 15 years, I just visit. It's Mom's house, but otherwise not special to me. ::shrugs:: Now, the farm house we lived in for my middle school and most of high school years, I was very attached to that house and I still miss it sometimes, especially the sycamore tree outside and the long driveway and the old-fashioned doors and stairs.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 07:16 pm (UTC)Also I could be wrong but, could the reason quasi-stepdad didn't feel the chainsaw when it fell have anything to do with the diabetes? I don't have any medical reasoning to back this up, but it just seemed to make sense in my head. But a lot of things make sense in my head, so feel free to ignore my prying.
~Jay
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Date: 2006-03-28 07:26 pm (UTC)I'm sure the lack of feeling in extremities is a symptom of progressing diabetes, along with slow healing and other less benign, potential bad stuff like blindness. I know that his hands aren't great when it comes to lighter sensation but it really worries me that something that required staples and stitches wasn't noticed at all. He only thought to check because he saw that the blade left a tear in his pants.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 08:47 am (UTC)Anyways, happy news about your mom and finding a house and your biofriend getting a grant. I am in awe of people who need to do the work necessary to help people AND have to go out and pursue the grant money to keep on keeping on. Ouch!
CindyS
no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 01:29 pm (UTC)He does have a high pain tolerance threshold, but the lack of feeling also goes back to the diminishing circulation that can also cause diabetic blindness, I think. Mom bugs him about his diet and medication, but he doesn't really want to change his life. His diabetes are a relatively recent development, in the past 5 years or so, and I don't think he's willing (or able, really) to modify his life that much. He quit smoking after smoking for 40+ years and he doesn't drink, so he feels like diet is the one area that he shouldn't have to give up things he loves.