Virgil

I think your visit will be a very good thing for your mom. It has to be hard to be in a rehab center when she likely equates it with a nursing home. I agree that it is probably a similar atmosphere. Maybe a visit from you and some encouragement will help to cheer her. I'm praying for her quick recovery. Take Care, Meg

Yes, your visit will cheer her up. I don't know if it helps but when you are depressed talking about good times and memories, tends to cheer you up. i don't know how this may be on your mum's case, but it's worth a try. Hope she recovers both physically and mentally. Regards, Jin.

I'm glad you're going to see her. I hope she feels better.

I'm sure you'll be able to get her meds. and care worked out when you get there and it will make both of you feel better. I hope you have a safe trip. Will you drive? I hope you can find time to keep us posted on how she's doing.

I think it is good you are going out there, too. A mom really needs her son and her kids at a time like this. My mom once was in a rehabilitation center like that. It is a usual thing nowdays, so try to let her know this and assure her it is only temporary. My mother is fine now and she was in for about 10 days I think. It was after her knee replacement. I know it must equate to her being like the nursing home. I am sorry to hear she suffers from mild clinical depression; I am sure the drugs they have given her threw her off some so maybe she can have an adjustment. It is not all that unusual either to get depressed after surgery. One's body is all wacked out and out of balance; I recall myself, having had surgery, I felt strange and not at all like me - quite emotional and off-balance at times. Of course, that is my usual state....just kidding. Anyway, when one goes to therapy it can be so exhausting and depressing, too and you usually feel more pain as well moving about. Try to give her all the sympathy you can cause mothers like that, I know. I am sure she will eat soon when she gets hungry enough. My brother-in-law who just had his lung out did not eat one day and now he is eating again - also he was quite depressed and off from the meds. Now he is doing quite well.
As far as the living will is concerned they make one fill that out now even to get teeth worked on I think, well maybe not teeth...but when one goes to the emergency room for even a cut they make ask you about it. That is just standard practice now and probably required on every questionare. I just got a living will drawn up by a lawyer....no big deal tell her. They ask all ages about it.
I hope she feels better tomorrow.
Stay calm, Janine

I think both you andshe will be better when you can see each other. Most everyone below stated things better then I ever could. Hope the best for you and your mother.

Thank you all. Yes I will be driving, Mom-H. Ten hours if I don't screw up. This will be the longest drive I will have ever done.

Good luck, Virgil. I really hope this gets better for your family. Stay strong.

I agree, your being there will help her Virg. 10 hours isn't so bad, I've done it often, bring lots of audio books. Good Luck.

Virgil, that is good to hear that your mother's surgery and recuperation are going so great, but sad to hear of her depression. Perhaps as someone below mentioned, that maybe her medications have her all out of sync, and perhaps talking with her doctors would help her as well as the family deal with her depression and help her cope. The medics involved will surely do all that they can to speed her recovery both physically and mentally, I am positive. Just be verbal about your concerns to the folks in charge of her care, and then you will feel better, knowing that someone trained would be looking into it on your behalf. Hope this message makes some kind of sense, because I just pray that your mother gets well soon and that you can take care, too. Thinking of you both, Kizzo