Mountain Stream in Colorado
The advance planning for our recent trip was time and energy well spent. We did all that we could to prepare; then we just trusted in God’s providence that all would be well…and it was. We encountered a few challenges, but nothing that couldn’t be handled. It was a very special and memorable trip for both my 89 year-old mother, and my disabled sister.
The best part for me, was witnessing the wonder and delight they experienced. The weather was perfect. The food was great. Mom and I enjoyed a new entrée–mango duck quesadillas. Our hosts had also prepared, and we didn’t want for anything. It was poignant seeing Mom embrace loved ones whom she hadn’t seen in years (and likely won’t see again). They talked and laughed like youngsters. My sister instantly bonded with the daughter of a family friend, a woman she had never met, who also suffers with chronic pain. Her ministry to this kindred spirit was most valuable and touching. It came at a vulnerable time when she desperately needed to hear from someone who has been there and copes with pain every day (my sister), that things can turn around.
The scenery and sunsets were awesome. My mother has been the family photographer for years. It seemed like she wanted me to take a picture of everything! Now she is assembling a photo album (sorting through more than 200 prints). She has enjoyed showing them to family and friends, and can savor the memories whenever she wishes.
Mom did have a checkup with her physician before traveling. She has shortness of breath (SOB) with exertion, and her blood pressure is sometimes labile–too high or too low. She got a green light; her resting oxygen saturation on room air was 96% and her hemoglobin was normal. An important consideration, since we were going to the mountains. She had just finished taking antibiotics for an urinary tract infection and was feeling a little weak.
Mom needed to rest (lying down) a couple of times during the day. I did Healing Touch™ for her once or twice each day and used therapeutic-grade essential oils. These holistic measures did help keep her energy balanced, her pain and other symptoms controlled. We did take our automatic blood pressure cuff along. Somewhere along the way, Mom lost her customized aromatherapy inhaler I created as supportive care for hypertension and/or fleeting chest pain. We discovered that the 60 milligram sublingual coenzyme Q10 (Q-Melt®) that she sometimes uses, smoothly lowered her elevated blood pressure to a desirable level within 45 minutes and got rid of her headache.
Our hosts rented a transport chair for Mom’s use. It is lighter and more portable than regular wheelchairs. We liked it so much that we purchased one when we returned home. It’s easy to fold up and put in the car…and I can handle it myself. The only drawback we’ve found is that you can’t push it over crushed rock; the wheels are too small to provide adequate traction.
Both airport experiences were satisfactory. It was interesting to see how many travelers require wheelchairs. There was a line of people waiting for them! Both my mother and sister needed wheelchairs. So of course, we were separated going through the security screening. That caused a little bit of anxiety for me and them. The alarm did go off because of my Mom’s hip prosthesis. Being “patted down” was a new experience for her. She did remind them that she was hard of hearing. The transport personnel were uniformly helpful and personable. It takes quite some time to get two disabled travelers from curbside check-in to the gate, so they were most deserving of their tips.
We didn’t have any appreciable delays; our flights were direct. For the most part, there was little turbulence. Both my mother and sister had used ginger root capsules to help prevent motion sickness. My sister had brief nausea after the plane landed. It quickly resolved within a minute or so, with inhaling peppermint essential oil.
My sister, who has CRPS1/RSDS, did have a pain exacerbation or crisis during the trip. We were out in public and she ended up having to lie down on the sidewalk. Her leg and foot were contorted in spasm; the searing pain shot up from her foot to the top of her head. Sweat poured off her body; her leg looked mottled and purple. She was crying out, though she tried to stifle it at first. Even though time seems to stand still for the person experiencing such intense pain, she was feeling much better within twenty minutes and we were able to travel again. A few people inquired as to whether we needed assistance. I thanked them for their kindness and assured them that I was a health professional, used to managing her symptoms.
Once again, prayer and holistic modalities turned things around. We have found that several drops of therapeutic-grade Roman chamomile applied neet, “melts away” her spasm. We reapplied it once; her spasm was completely gone in under seven minutes. We also used a Young Living Essential Oil blend, called AromaSeiz™ on her head, neck, arm, and leg. She carries it in a roller ball container for ease of application. Then I did Healing Touch™ which always soothes her, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course, we also used her prescription liquid pain medication a couple of times, but it takes 60-90 minutes to obtain a full therapeutic effect.
The day of our return trip seemed very long. We didn’t get home until about midnight. All of us needed a few days to rest and recover. It would have been nice to have made this trip a year or two ago, when Mom was more mobile and had more stamina. Even so, it was still very worthwhile and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. I encourage caregivers who are contemplating traveling with their elderly and/or disabled care recipients, to do so, if at all feasible. It can be one of those special joys of caregiving.
Caregiving Solutions 
