Summary

The author, Darcy Thiel, is preparing for her father's discharge from rehab after an emotional and exhaustive week, expressing gratitude towards the staff, and planning for his return home with family support.

Abstract

Darcy Thiel is anticipating her father's return home from rehab, where he has received excellent care from compassionate staff, forming a bond akin to family. The release is scheduled to accommodate her busy schedule, and plans are in place for his transition back to assisted living. Darcy reflects on the emotional weight of leaving the care of the rehab staff, similar to her experience with hospice care after her husband's passing. She acknowledges the challenges ahead, including the need for constant supervision to prevent falls and the financial implications of hiring additional care. Despite the hardships, Darcy is hopeful and grateful for the support received from the community and is inspired by a psychologist's teachings on selflessness and sacrifice.

Opinions

The author feels a deep sense of gratitude towards the rehab staff for their exceptional care and kindness towards her father.
There is a mix of relief and sadness in leaving the rehab center, as the staff has become like family during this intense period.
The author values the importance of being present for her father's discharge and is appreciative of the rehab center's flexibility in accommodating her schedule.
She is concerned about the potential for future falls and the struggle her father faces with daily tasks, emphasizing the need for vigilant care.
Darcy is considering the financial impact of hiring additional help versus relying on family support.
She is looking forward to her father's doctor's visit at his living complex and hopes to establish a good relationship with the new physician.
The author reflects on the concept of sacrifice and its importance in a society that often prioritizes individual happiness, finding inspiration in the writings of a psychologist who advocates for putting others first.
Darcy expresses heartfelt thanks to her community for their prayers, support, and for being there during difficult times.
She admires her father's resilience and is emotionally invested in ensuring his comfort and well-being as he continues to cope with his health challenges.

Release

Phew!

After a very emotional and exhausting week, Dad is coming home tomorrow! I know it could have been a much longer time, but it felt like it was a really long road. It was weird leaving rehab today, knowing that on a Saturday morning none of them would be there when he is discharged.

After a while, it feels like they are family. The physical and occupational therapy departments were really great with him. They liked working with him too because he is just a nice guy and they appreciate him.

It sort of reminded me of when I left Hospice after my husband Tim died. These are people you start to see every single day, and suddenly you know you will probably never see them again.

Plus, there is the connection of feeling grateful to someone who has helped the person you love. When someone takes good care of your family, your child, whoever, there is a warmth toward them that doesn’t go away.

There were obvious problems, but there were many who did their jobs extremely well.

Dad is counting down the hours. They are letting him out at 9 am to accommodate my schedule because I have a hellish day tomorrow. I need to get him all packed up, transported home, unpacked, and have his meds ready for the week, all before 11 am. I appreciate them getting him out earlier for me.

My sister from Tennessee and I talked about the need for someone to keep an eye on things for the next week. The assisted living home where he resides thinks it’s a great idea as well.

Truth be told, I think Dad does too.

No more falls. He needs to be careful. Sometimes he still struggles with buttons or shoes. Someone should be nearby when he showers, just in case he loses his balance. We can hire staff to handle those things, but it’s frankly a ridiculous amount of additional money.

I’m hoping we can handle it ourselves.

Monday he meets the doctor at his living complex. I’m hoping we like her. After that, I will have to buckle down and help him with all his Christmas preparations. We’ve done what we can already, but there will be plenty of last-minute things.

Too bad hardship doesn’t check in with your schedule.

It always seems to happen at the most difficult time. But there is no one that can control that. And in a self-centered society that promotes individual happiness, the art of sacrifice is sometimes a lost virtue.

I’ve been studying a psychologist who bucks that bologna and pushes for putting others ahead of yourself. It’s refreshing to read him.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support and visits and love and the countless hours listening to me vent.

And yay to dad, who does his best to push on, even though he has been ready for a long time to be done with this side of heaven.

Love you, Dad!

I’m Darcy Thiel. I utilize my professional and personal experiences to increase my understanding and compassion to help others. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Adult Planning Specialist, End of Life Doula, and author. Feel free to check out my profile to hear more.