When I got there, she was still wet and shivering, but made no objections to calling 911. I got her into dry clothes, a warm jacket, and stocking cap before EMS showed up.
While she showed no signs of trauma, they did a workup on her anyway, since you don't take chances at 84. The doctor says she apparently had a mild, asymptomatic heart attack. That is probably what caused her to fall, and not be able to get up.
They don't see any serious complications, although they are keeping her at least overnight to get her started on blood thinners and do a CAT scan to verify there are no aneurysms. No apparent trauma from her fall, since the ground was wet (and cold).
While waiting with her in the ER, I heard a conversation about another 83-year-old woman who fell down the stairs, and then came in two days later when complications set in. I'm grateful my mother showed some strong common sense.
I'll be getting her a wireless remote panic button hooked up to her alarm system. I think she'll carry it with her without any fuss, now. She never blacked out, but spending two hours on your side in a cold rain, calling for help, can get your attention. If the weather would have been better, someone would have been outside, and gotten to her sooner.
I will refrain from asking her what possessed her to trim her rose bushes in lousy weather like this.
Excellent idea. I'm glad she's ok. What a horible experience! *hugs* to your mom.
I will refrain from asking her what possessed her to trim her rose bushes in lousy weather like this.
Let it go. These are the questions that have no answer. ;-)
Winmag, we’re so sorry about your mom’s fall. Prayers for her complete recovery. OB & LSA
God bless your mom, bro... she sounds like one tuff lady...
glad to hear she’s doin’ okay... could have been much, much worse...good call on the “panic button”...
Wow. So glad she’s ok. That’s scary.
Oh dear, winmag - what an ordeal! Glad she’s OK!
Goodness! I’m glad your mom is ok!
Can you give me a tip on how your mom did it? (Raised such a good son, I mean.)
Now is a good time to prune roses... they said so on the news yesterday!
So glad she will be OK - it certainly was a close call, and the panic button is a very good idea. It was fear of just that kind of thing that made my grandma not want to be home alone at the beach house any more... there'd be no one there to hear her. I hope your mom can get home and get those rose bushes finished soon... with her button on, just in case.
Good heavens, man... what a scary event. Hang in there...
You are a wise son. ;o) That's good to get her some sort of 'panic button', kind of like the 'Life Alert' thing. That way, she can get help more quickly, when needed.
Glad to hear she was relatively unscathed from her ordeal!