"My mum suffered a mini stroke"

My mum suffered a mini stroke during COVID, back in June.

I'd been visiting on the weekend, as I work in an isolated office within a farm house and live alone. I consider myself my parents "carer" as I live relatively close by.

Because no one else was visiting, and the cleaner was unable to attend, my parents aged 85 and 89 were having to cope on their own (my mum is partially disabled after an unsuccessful 2nd hip operation).

One weekend I was unable to visit because I was just plain tired. I turned up on the following Friday night and noticed my Mum's speech was slurring but she bounced into the room and dived into the ironing. When I called "supper's ready" she said "I'll just finish this piece". She'd been going for it at the ironing board probably because the ironing had stacked up. (This was her one job, as she could do it sitting down).

As soon as she sat down at the dinner table, she was able to eat, but not talk. I assumed a low blood sugar (type 2 diabetic), and thought she'd improve with food. She managed half a plate full. However, something was clearly wrong but we managed to get her upstairs to bed using aids. On Saturday I decided to call 111.

Since that time, we've met a whole team of amazing, kind and caring people. The 111 team got to us at 11.30pm on Saturday night, and this is when i learnt they work 24/7. I could hear them asking questions such as where I stay from the spare bedroom where I appeared from. After this, I decided that I should live-in and formed a bubble with my parents.

The 111 team did a thorough check. The Dr rang on Monday and we were given a lot of support, but in the end went to hospital for a full diagnostic and returned home 4 days later with a support package. Since then, Mum had her 89th Birthday in July, has stopped slurring her words and is even able to dress herself on occassion. We've met an OT who came to the house and supplied safety equipement and training, a Speech Therapist whose words of wisdom set Mum on a more positive path, and a Bladder support nurse who makes all our lives a lot easier. The district nurse now comes to check Mum's diabetic leg ulcer that we battled with unsuccessfully for a while.

In summary: because Mum suffers incontinence, she'd been de-hydrating herself, which won't have done her any good. It takes a lot of support to look after an old lady and I just want to say a massive Thank you and huge amount of appreciation to all the Borders NHS and Merse Medical Practice for being there with all your loveliness and allowing me to go to work!

Thank you from all of the family.