My sister makes Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch look like happy people at Christmas. There was some incident in the 50s with poodles and a Toy's For Tots like organization. She's hated Christmas since. I live with my sister. We don't decorate. We don't acknowledge Christmas in this house. There is a wreath on the door and a poinsettia, that's about it.
Twice during the first two years of the pandemic she been taken to the hospital and then to rehab. They never figure out what's wrong with her. Now I noticed it was coming. It started Sunday. But this time the spiral down hill was much quicker. First she stops knitting. Then eating and drinking. Then she gets weak. Every day I beg her to go to the doctor. I get told to f*n mind my business. Wednesday she called me Elin. My late hypochondriac sisters name.
This time it took less than a week. Yesterday morning she was weak when she got up but she wasn't eating or drinking. She still dressed herself, walked down the hall and stairs, and even got into the car to ride along for errands. We got home an hour later. She could barely move. It was a struggle to get her in the house. She got worse as the hours went, still refusing to go to the doctor. I went to my brother's to drop something off and came home 45 minutes later. I think the decline sped up even more. I called Nurse Ratchett: aka Bonnie.
About 2:30 we called 911. Muhlenberg was full of covid patients so they took her to St. Luke's. Bonnie and I waited 10 minutes then we went in her car. The ambulances were backed up in the bay. Bonnie dropped me off. When I checked her in my sister was still outside. Bottom line: the right side of her heart wasn't working. I'm sure there's other stuff. I don't know. I also only understand 1/4 of what they tell me.
At 9:15 they took her up to Critical Care. I left. I returned to the waiting room to darkness. Oh shit. It's only five blocks and it's pitch black out. Is it safe to walk? I tried calling a taxi but they were backed up. I thought about downloading Uber but getting into a strangers car is just as risky as walking.
I dialed Bonnie's number, and I walked home—5 blocks. It was so pretty with the Christmas lights and there were few people on the street. All was well.
I guess my walks for the next few days will be up and back to the hospital. Maybe I'll even try the stairs, though it wouldn't be a good place to get dizzy! I'll take a pen and paper and write notes phonetically because Bonnie will ask.
I am not updating family until after the holiday. No matter what happens. "Scrooge" will not ruin Christmas for everyone. Besides, it's not March.
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