Sunday, December 2, 2012

Lala

Lala is my best friend here in the barrio. She lives next door and is around 80 she thinks. Every morning, at around 6 am, she wanders past my house in her nightie to go to the colmado to get a little packet of coffee. If she doesn't have the money for coffee she stops at my gate and yells and hands out her mug and I go and get her a mug of coffee from my coffee maker, with 4 sugars. She complains if it doesn't have enough sugar.

the morning nightie walk
Lala is diabetic. Insulin controlled and she has a cracked mug with the syringe in it and the insulin in a little bottle. Her husband gives her the injections every day. She isn't sure how much she should have and nor is he. She has a cataract in one eye, so cannot see out of it, but the other one was operated on by an American team of doctors who came here a few years ago. She is waiting for them to return to do the other eye.

Every time I go to the colmado to get food for lunch, around 10 am she yells at me. "Fideito entray," in her strong local accent. She calls me little noodle as I am thin. We sit and chat and howl with laughter at each other's lives. She had 16 children I think although 3 died in adulthood. One recently paid for a bathroom for her, so she is over the moon that she has a real toilet to sit on. She gives me cabbage her son brings for her. I buy her Gatorade as she loves it.


Last week Lala had a stroke. She was taken to the clinic and then transferred to the public hospital in Santiago. Every day I would ask her husband and her daughter how she was. Her husband said he had spoken to the doctors who said it could go two ways. She would get better or she would get worse.

Last night I heard screaming from next door and suddenly the whole street was full of people running to Lala's house. I assumed she had died, and sent my husband round to check. She had not died, but the doctors said she was brain dead and were sending her home to die. With no medications, no district nurses, no help, with nothing.

I went to see Lala this morning. The house was full. All her children who have not bothered to come and see her for years have all turned up with their families. She has a feeding tube so she will not die of starvation. She is totally still and cannot move nor speak. I explained to the family that if she was brain dead she would not be able to breathe. They told me you use your lungs to breathe and not your brain. Whatever. I held her hand and spoke to her. She opened her eyes and squeezed my hand. Well, I think she squeezed it.  Lala is still there, somewhere. Somehow, without medical help we have to work to get her back.

No idea how we will do it, but I will go and see her every day on the way to the colmado, even though she doesn't shout at me to go and see her. I will read to her, try and make her laugh as she always did. Tell her stories about England and what life is like in other countries.

If it doesn't work, she has the dignity of dying in her own home, surrounded by people who love her. I just wish there was some way we could have some help from people who know what they are doing for stroke patients, and how to nurse them at home. If anyone knows what I should be doing please let me know. I really want her back as I miss her terribly.

18 comments:

  1. I am not a nurse or health professional, but being with her in her last moments is the best thing you can do. Talking to her and surrounding her with love is the best thing in my opinion. I'm so sorry this happened to your best friend. May God be with her and her family. xoxo Alyssa

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  2. Sorry about your friend. Nice that you will do your utmost to make her days fun. I think all that sugar cannot be good for someone who is diabetic. All the best and hope she can get good nursing or medical care.

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    1. I am sure the sugar isnt good either - but you can't tell a Dominican not to put sugar in their coffee - diabetic or not!

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  3. So sorry to hear about your wonderful friend. She's in the best place at home with her family and friends around her. I do hope she'll get better. Take care of yourself too.

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    1. Thanks Steph. I agree much better at home than the public hospital.

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  4. Oh Linds I was laughing at the begiining of your post about her antics, she is so like the old Portuguese women and as I read on I felt so sad.

    My father had a stroke and like you with Lala we just stroked or held his hand and spoke to him. He eventually came home, but was confined to a wheelchair and paralysed down one side of his face and could not speak properely and my became so grumpy and rude.

    So yes, hold her hand, hug her and talk to her.

    Hig
    Pigs

    Hugs to

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    1. I hope she doesn't get grumpy - my Grandad was the same after his stroke. Maybe it's a man thing. Wouldn't surprise me.
      Thanks for the hugs pug lol.

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  5. Err sorry that should read hugs from Pigs...brain not in gear yet

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  6. Matilda, I love reading your blog. This one has me teary eyed. I am sorry for Lala, her family and you. Like others have said, just be there for her, reading, stroking her hair and face, talking to her etc. She will know you are there and it will be alot of comfort to her. Miracles can happen....I know, I was one of them.

    May God bless you all!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words. Yes we are praying for a miracle.

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  7. This is really sad. I pray that she gets better soon, if not she is at home with her loved ones.

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  8. A very touching and inspirational tale. Lindsay I am always amaze at your love and compassion for the people of the DR. Its a testament of what a wonderful person you are. I hope Lala gets better soon. Prays.

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  9. Keep reading and talkling to her. Hoping for the best.

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  10. Lindsey, sing to her. She can possibly still hear you and even so the vibrations will calm her. Don't worry about your voice. Also ask her to blink for a "yes" and to wrinkle her nose for a "no" answer. Or some movement or squeeze of hand that signals a yes or no. She may not have a lot of brain activity but she is blessed to have your friendship and her spirit most likely recognizes your presense. I spent 6 years providing music therapy to a young woman in a coma and it was very humbling. Try to get stories from all her children and retell them to her. Good luck. Janet

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  11. Thank you for all your kind words. Unfortunately Lala passed away on Wednesday afternoon.

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  12. So sorry for the loss of your friend. She had a beautiful smile and I can see you are going to miss her. Remember her well and take care.

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