March 5, 2011 - I lost my Mom...

Sylvia M. Parsons

Sylvia Maxine Parsons, 74, of Luray, died on Saturday, March 5, 2011, at Winchester Medical Center.

She was born on April 14, 1936, in Stanley and was a daughter of the late Fred Lee and Lonnie Irene Taylor Seal.

Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Luray Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. She worked in the housekeeping department for Page Memorial Hospital for 10 years.

She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Irene Parsons of Winchester; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Seal and Thelma Seal; three brothers, Robert, Virgil and Orley Seal; and one great-grandchild.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Bradley Funeral Home by the Rev. Stan Peerless. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Luray.

The family was to receive friends from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the funeral home.


~My Mom had diverticulitis with a perforated bowel. She had surgery December 3, 2010. A week later she started having chest pains and was taken to the ICU. 36 hours later, she had a heart attack and coded. They got her back. She was a patient of the Cardiac ICU for a couple weeks and then onto the surgical floor. She was in the hospital for 6 weeks. She then went to rehab at Rose Hill in Berryville, VA. She had an infection was as being treated for it the entire time from her discharge from the unit to the very end. From there, was a roller coaster ride for my Mom. She was at rehab for about a week and went back to the hospital for GI bleeding. Stayed for awhile and went back to rehab. Stayed there for about another week and went back to the hospital with double pneumonia. Got her fixed up again and went back to rehab. Was there for about another week and then went back to the hospital for GI bleeding, this time was worse. Got her straightened out and went back to rehab. When she returned, she still wasn't feeling that well. Her stomach was bothering her and she she didn't want to eat. She then started vomiting and her blood pressure was really low. On Friday, March 4th, I received a call that they were sending her back to the hospital. She was taken back to the ICU. They put in a central line because she was so dehydrated. Middle of the night, they did a femoral line to monitor her blood pressure. I received a call at 7am from her Dr saying they were going to intubate her and take her to emergency surgery. The bowel was infected and they needed to take it out. The last thing Mom said to me in the ER was "I love you too". I was told she would not make it thru the surgery because of the infections she had. But she did. She was with us a couple hours and then the Pastor came to me and told me there was alot of activity in her room, they are doing CPR. They got her back again, but having a time with her BP. She was hemorrhaging and they were putting blood in as fast as they could give it. They said they could take her back to surgery, but she would die on the table. It was that bad...I told them to stop. I told them to stop....At 4:13pm Saturday March 5th, she passed away while I was holding her hand. I hate being a nurse in times like this - you know too much. And I know my Mom did NOT want to be like this. God love her, she told me to rip up the DNR in the ER Friday night.

She had went thru hell all because a Doctor would not order a simple test - a colonoscopy. She paid a very high price of pain and suffering in result of this. Yes, she had other health issues, but did not have to go thru all of this.

As for me, I would not have changed a thing taking care of my Mom. She has been with me for 6-7 years. She was my Mom. And she would have done the same for me. Because we loved each other. She was my Mom. But I wish I could have done more for her. She was my best friend and the Best Mom ever. I am so proud and honored to have her as my Mom. And I miss her so much.

At the funeral, I got to sing "Amazing Grace" to her before they closed the casket. It was shaky and thru alot of tears, but I did it. She loved listening to me play the piano, especially that song.

Thank you Mom, for being my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, the best Grandmother to Chris, Steven and Matthew, and the best GG to Hayden. I know you two are having fun in Heaven together making up for lost time! But most of all - thank you Mom for being my Mom! We shared alot of laughs and tears, went thru alot of good times and bad, but we were always together. I learned alot from you. Thank you Mom! I love you and miss you so much. It's not home here without you. And I sure am lonely without you. But I'll be ok, I hope! I love you, Mom, forever and always! 318

My Grandson - Hayden

Just wanted to let everyone know: My grandson, Hayden, was taken to Children's Hospital in Washington DC last Thursday. They were hoping he would come home Sunday, but it may be today. Just waiting to hear. But they are taking it one day at a time.

Remember the Bubble Boy? Hayden is very close to being him, as his Dr told us Saturday. Hayden has been trying for the longest time to get over colds, ear infections, his poor injury on his finger. They finally got a Dr to question what the heck is going on and found out. He was rushed to DC.

Hayden has almost NO antibodies in his body. His appetite is poor. So what calories he does have, his body is using to fight off infections. Part of the reason he is not growing like he should! Saturday, he got his first IV dose of IGg (antibodies) with HOPES and PRAYERS his body can rebuild his own immune system. He will have to have this done every week. IF this doesn't work, then he will have to be put on the bone marrow list for a donor. His blood isn't clotting like it should either, so they kept him another day.

My son and Trish are devastated, along with the rest of the family. Hayden is only 2 years old. He is in good spirits and still ornery! As you can see what he did with his chocolate milk! Poured it out into his lap, chair! :) But gets tired easy now.

This is one time I hate being a nurse. You know too much. The look on my son's face just crushed my heart. We have to wear gloves, masks and gowns to see him.

Please keep Hayden and his parents in your prayers, please?

Thanks in advance for all the prayers. I don't know how much more I can carry on my back and shoulders.

Dr Appts, Hospital visits, and Physical Therapy - OH MY!!!

Where do I begin? Mom had a Dr. appointment with the Foot Dr. this week. All was fine there. Then she had her PT/INR checked - everything fine there too! Today, we went to see a new Dr. for gastro problems she is having. Next Thursday she drinks that wonderful GoLightly prep for a Colonoscopy on Friday...which she is NOT happy about! This Friday, she starts physical therapy for her right knee. She has a Baker's cyst behind her knee and was given a cortisone shot and ordered PT three times a week. She tells me all the time how lucky she is to have me for a daughter and a nurse to her! :)

(Chris and her Mom, Virginia, taken at the 5th Year Anniversary party for HeartFelt Angels)

A friend of mine I met thru my charity 6 years ago, Chris, has been with her Mom in the hospital for 2 weeks now. So much going on with her Mom. She's hardly eating enough to keep a bird alive. They made the decision for her to become a DNR and now calling in Hospice. I've called quite a bit and the past few days, I've gone to see Chris and her Mom more. She always gives me a kiss on the cheek and tells me she loves me when I leave. She crocheted ALOT for my charity and made such beautiful things for the babies. She was always very supportive of my charity. When I sit with them, Chris and I just crochet up a storm and her Mom just watches us in between resting. These are a pair of booties I learned how to make while sitting with Chris and her Mom yesterday - they are so cute! Don't you think???


So it's been a very busy and emotional week so far and it's only Weds.!!! No word yet from Trish about the baby.

Driving to Luray, VA this afternoon to pick up Mom's keys that were lost by my middle son, Steven, (when we went to meet the investigator and mow the yard!) and to get her hair cut and check on the house. They were turned in to CVS Pharmacy and they ran the number on her plastic tag thingy and got her name and address from that. They wrote her a letter stating her keys were turned into them and then turned over to the Police Department to be picked up. We honestly thought they were lost forever. That was so nice of the staff at CVS to go to all that trouble to find the owner! So it does pay one way or another to have those plastic key thingys from different stores to get discounts!

Here's a happy picture to share. This is ME sitting on the beach last month on one of the "cooler" days, crocheting in front of the ocean! What can I say - I LOVE TO CROCHET!!!