Sister number 2 left last Tuesday. She arrived from Sydney on 1 June, almost 2 months ago, to be with our mum and care for her. I miss her as does our mum.

I’m not sure if sister number 2 was fully aware of the extent of caring required for our mum. I’m also not sure if sister number 2 actually or unwittingly signed up for the ‘caring-for-mum’ job. That said, she stepped up to the plate on several levels.

She enabled me to take an almost 3-week holiday with my husband to England. A break that was discussed and hoped for but practically and realistically was not on the cards. Why? Who was going to take full responsibility to care for our mum 24×7 – from observing her health status, administering medicines, attending to her personal care, cooking and/or ordering daily meals to stocking medical and home supplies, whilst I was away? England is a mighty faraway place. Not one I can return from urgently, should sister number 2 require help, support or back-up. Was sister number 2 ready to be-in-charge? Yes. Maybe. Yes. With reinforcements from family locally, and sister number 1 who was due to arrive from England to also be with, and care for our mum. 

After putting in-place the required resources, she gave me the green light as did my mum who encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity. I didn’t jump at the offer. I had concerns. I thought of all the what ifs. Finally, my heart and head decided, but I still wasn’t sure for sure. It was during the holiday that I realised just how much I needed a sojourn – to be able to relax and laugh. It was the right decision for me.

As I’ve written many times before, our mum has good, bad, good and bad days. It’s a predictable, unpredictable cycle. The night that my husband and I were scheduled to fly to England, our mum’s blood test revealed a high potassium level. It needed urgent addressing. Kalimate was again prescribed as it was last February when our mum had a similarly high potassium level.

As sister number 2 was in charge, she organised for the medicines to be delivered, and started with the administration immediately. While our sister-in-law assisted in the interim, sister number 1 arrived from England. Together they faced and addressed our mum’s immediate health issues and daily personal care.

A second blood test was scheduled 5 days later to check if our mum’s potassium level had returned to normal. It didn’t. The threat of hospitalization loomed if there was no progress. Another diuretic was prescribed to get rid of potassium via her urine. She was already on two other diuretics for her heart ailment.  Third blood test followed. Potassium down. White blood cell count high. An infection was detected. A broad-spectrum antibiotic, a standby medicine that I keep for instances like this, was given.

A fourth blood test and a sputum test were conducted to check the state of my mum’s lungs.  A new bacterium was detected. A susceptible antibiotic or one that is effective to fight this bad germ was then prescribed. The antibiotic was large, and caused a tummy upset but it was necessary. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was also prescribed. That too was disagreeable but necessary. Improvisations were made. The antibiotic was halved/split and given in the morning and evening. More salt instead of NaCI was added to our mum’s food – to help reduce the stomach complaints. While caring for my mum, sister number 2 fell ill herself. Sister number 1 took charge giving sister number 2 the much need rest and respite to recover. Gratefully, the medicines and personal care provided by sisters’ number 1 and 2 tackled our mum’s condition.   

The two weeks of treatments was eventful to say the least, and yet not unusual for our mum. Cough, phlegm, infection, inflammation, fever. Variable pulse rate, blood pressure and saturation levels. Itchy skin. Profuse sweating. Weight loss. Achy bones. Loss of appetite. Fluid retention. Pain here, if not there. Shifting potassium, urea, creatinine, e-GFR, sodium, white blood cell count and blood glucose readings. Oxygenator to help with breathing and a regimen of medicines. These are all our mum’s normal.

Why? The core health problems have not gone away. Our mum has heart failure with a dangerously low Ejection Fraction and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). These two diseases – which are part of the respiratory and circulatory system and her chronically impaired kidney – will continue to cause predictable, unpredictable cycles. Our mum will continue to require on-going urgent and/or appropriate treatments.

That said, sister number 2 in particular, and sister number 1, stepped up to the plate. The duo not only successfully nursed our mum back to health but also kept her entertained, amused and most importantly, happy and cheerful. Thank you, akas.