Dateline Dayton – Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Pauline’s brother, Joe, has continued to improve, but conditions at Mercy Siena have not. Last Friday morning while administering his eye medication, a nurse poked him in the eye.

He wants out of there. Now.

Since I took the day off, our son Chris helped me move another load from Joe’s apartment before he and his mother made a couple visits to prospective places providing rehab. While they were gone, I continued to get things rearranged in the garage and ran two errands.

When Chris returned, I took him to Siena to give Joe an update on what they had learned about rehabbing for him. To minimize distractions, we decided that only Chris would go in. Afterward, we went back to Joe’s apartment for still another load of his belongings, which we dropped off at the storage facility.

Saturday, Chris and I were joined by our son Bill, and three of our daughter Lisa’s children, Ashley, Kyle and Danielle, to finally complete Joe’s move from his apartment. As I was getting ready to leave, the property manager came by. We completed the walk-through with everything in order.

Now Here Comes a Reward

After all vehicles were unloaded at the storage facility, we went to Marion’s for pizza.

On Sunday, it was church, breakfast and a trip to the meat market for Tuesday’s meals, although we weren’t sure who would be joining us. Then three of us went to visit Joe. After further reviewing his options, Joe decided that he wanted to go to Walnut Creek’s rehab center. Good. It is closer to our home.

Chris agreed to make the necessary phone calls on Monday morning for Walnut Creek, and Joe was able to make the move yet that day. I stopped by the house on the way to the post office, and the call came that the transport would be at Siena at 2:15. I rearranged my work schedule so Pauline would not have to move Joe’s things.

Walnut Creek is a much nicer Than Siena. Their staff did everything possible to accommodate Joe’s wishes.

Oops, Off to a Rocky Start

However, Christmas Day started with a phone call from Joe, saying he had waited an hour for someone at Walnut Creek to answer his call. The day before, they had emphasized all calls were answered within five minutes, 10 at most. Joe wanted Pauline to complain. She did, and received a lame excuse.

After attending Christmas Mass on Tuesday morning, Pauline, Chris and I, along with our daughter Darlene and her family, went to see Joe. Nothing was said about the earlier problem. Chris would look into it later.

After we arrived back home, we were joined by Lisa’s family for sandwiches and other goodies. Everyone stayed until early evening. Still, it wasn’t a normal Christmas Day in our home. Instead, we will be celebrating Christmas on Sunday.

Chris dealt with the Tuesday calling problem for Joe, and he felt good was accomplished. The doctor for Walnut Creek, who happens to be Pauline’s doctor, visited Joe, and he ordered tests. We are concerned, but happy that Joe is receiving attention.

Who knows what today might bring?

Meanwhile, I hope you and your family have a Happy New Year that will be and prosperous, too!

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net