Remembering Angela Ronson

 

To all of Angela's friends, this is her eldest daughter Marina:

My mom Angela Ronson peacefully passed away early Friday morning in her sleep at the age of 51. Life has a bit of a different outlook than it did when I woke up this morning.

I know 51 sounds young, but my mom was living on borrowed time. My family and I are so grateful we got to have 19 extra years with her after her AVM ruptured and she had her stroke in December 2002. I knew the day would come when I would lose my mom for the second time, I just didn’t expect it so soon.

My mom loved living, and she fought like hell to stay earth side as long as her body would allow her. She was one of the strongest and smartest people I’ve ever known in my life and I’m so blessed and grateful that she brought me into this world. Her wit and tenacity and resilience were thankfully passed on to me, as was her bravery. She stuck around long enough to get to know her granddaughter Layla and to see me and my sister both graduate from high school. These things are more than I ever could have asked for. I wish like hell she could see me graduate college next year, meet my future spouse, and that my future children - her grandchildren - could have met their grandmother. They would have loved her.

My mom loved my sister and I so much and was always so proud of us, even when we struggled. She gave us everything she could even though life was not easy. I am going to miss her dearly.

Angela is survived by her parents, Myra Metz and Robert Ronson, her stepfather Alan Metz, her sisters Carla Mahaffey, Vanessa Mejia, and Gina Ronson, her 10 nieces and nephews, her daughters Marina Pauline Garcia (me) and Sarah Alyce Daneri, and her granddaughter Layla Diane Abasta.

I will be in the process of making arrangements over the next few days and will keep loved ones posted. If you knew my mom and would like to get in touch with me, my number is (714) 478-3181. I may not be able to answer right away, but I will be responding to texts and calls as I can.

Donations toward funeral costs can be made directly to myself through Venmo or Zelle, both of which can be found via my phone number. Venmo can also be found via @marinapaulineee.

There will be a virtual service with details posted in the coming days. If you have photos of or with my mother, please email them to marinagarcia94@live.com or text them to me.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s love and support.

Getting a Hospital Bed

Medicaid/Medicare will provide a hospital bed, but you need a prescription. I needed a prescription for this one. You usually order through your local medical supply store. My first bed was ordered and arranged by the hospital social worker. Subsequent beds were done by myself and family. I'm on my third bed. (I'm not dead yet. Someone needs to tell the government that people aren't dying like they used to.) 

Monthly share of cost may apply. I get mine waived due to low income. Private insurance may do the same. You have to check.

The standard bed looks like this. 

A standard bed is provided where the head goes up and down. A mattress is there, unlike the picture. That hand crank controls the leg height. There's a separate head control that is done with an electric hand-held remote.

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If you are not sure about where your local medical supply is, ask the receptionist or a nurse at your doctor's office. They used to be the only place in town to get medical scrubs, the uniform we see. Other stores now carry them and I bet many people are relieved.

Some towns have more than one medical supply, and some towns don't have any.

There are medical supply stores on-line. I will use them if the deal is good and the shipping is low. You want to know where your  local store is, though. You may need something now!

Head Over Wheels

"Stand behind the wheelchair because I don't know if it has anti-tip bars," I told my daughter.

She got behind it and pushed down. The chair tilted back and went to the floor. 

Oh my!

This can be remedied. These bars are sold separately. A caregiver will want them with a total care patient. A person who has the ability to manipulate a manual chair may not need them and find them to be a hindrance. I am total care, but I talk and have my mental faculties. It presents an unusual situation. 

I got a new wheelchair for travel. I have an electric wheelchair. I don't have a wheelchair van. I don't want one. The electric wheelchairs are very heavy. You can't lift the one I have. A lighter, manual chair that folds to be put in the trunk of a car is needed.

It would have been nice if my new wheelchair came with anti-tip bars. It didn't have a seatbelt, either. I got that first. I'm getting a seat cushion next.

A conspiracy theory is going to develop about wheelchairs without safety devices. I don't believe that stuff. I think my new wheelchair is pretty and cheap.

I'll shop around, but 

I like these.

This picture looks useful.

OT Assessments

A & D Ointment

I hate rolling. I realized why when I was writing this. I once was rolled right off the bed.

When a person is unconscious, bedding and diapers still need to be changed. This is achieved by rolling the patient side-to-side. I have included a training video so you have an idea of this.

My eyes were open when this occurred. The rest of my body was unresponsive. I was beginning to vocalize words. 
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Right before I had brain surgery, I was at a long-term care hospital. It was in the process of being indicted. I had to return there for a few days before surgery. Upon my arrival I was changed.

The aide forgot to put the safety rail up on the other side of the bed. When he rolled me, he rolled me right off the bed.

Name Brand Removed

 He fixed me up good. Nurses carried packets of A&D Ointment at this place. Every bump and bruise I got was covered in A&D Ointment. I was plastered.

A&D Ointment is used for bedsores. That's why the nurses were carrying it. Different brands make it. I just used one for the picture.   It is also for minor cuts and burns. It is sold for diaper rash. It protects against wetness. As you can see bumps and bruises are covered.

I'm still in bed, but I lift for changes. This is called bridge or pelvic tilt. No more rolling.

Directly to the Stomach

Digestive System

There are no organs between the stomach and mouth. Food does not get any extra process. This is one reason to chew your food well. Another is choking.  You have to be able to swallow it in the first place, so you chew it. Chew it well or you'll choke. We chew our food for proper digestion and so we can swallow it.

The feeding tube gives us direct access to the stomach, but we are only bypassing the mouth. How do you feed someone who is asleep? 

I think of those old western movies where they tried to make an unconscious person drink.

Fortunately we have the feeding-tube now.

We have the pill crusher for chewing. I went to a place that used mortar and pestle. It's your preference. The pill crusher may be easier to find.

The mouth also wets the food with saliva. For that we have formula. It's just like formula for a baby, but made for an adult. A few are flavored. This is pumped directly to the stomach and doesn't need to be flavored.

Thank goodness we now have feeding-tubes or we'd be trying to wake people out of comas to take a sip of water.

I don't do my own feeding, but this gives 

good ideas, ones I did not know.
Yes, I have my own tube.

Keep Your Legs Working

I didn't have an exoskeleton. Years ago I did something similar. A brace was made for my right leg. It was a bar that came out of my shoe and went to my knee. A physical therapist (PT) and a PT aide helped me walk down a hall.

In the title of the video, the girl said she used her hip flexors. This goes back to a range of motion video I saw. A caregiver rolls the leg so the hip flexor doesn't freeze up.

Here is the range of motion video. It focuses on the lower extremities.

Range of motion is performed because "use it or lose it."

This paper centers on the lower extremities, which are needed for walking. There is upper extremity range of motion as well. Keep everything moving. You might need it later.

It Will Stick

You can click as some is hiding.