New update:

I've only been updating the "RDURES in hospital" thread because with all that's been going on, maintaining three threads has been a bit too time consuming. For anyone looking for a more detailed account please check that thread.

Over the weekend I actually spoke with Mom on the phone. It was not a long conversation and mostly consisted of me asking her questions and her giving one word replies. No came across clearly while it seemed like she was having to work harder to get out a yes answer. She did start the conversation with hiya. This is very encouraging to me. I'm going to fly back this Friday to visit her for a day or two and so I should have a more detailed update after spending some more time with her. Thanks to Efrem for the award ticket (I'm not playing favorites among all those generous FT folks who offered tickets, he just happened to email me a question right as I was thinking of making a reservation). With regards to phone calls to Mom, if you call and ask to be put through to her room, it'll just ring as she's not quite up to answering the phone on her own yet. When I spoke with her, my brother called me from her room and held the phone for her. I hear the best way to try to talk to her is to call the main switchboard and have them call her ward to see if a nurse is free to help facilitate the call. That's it for now.

Thanks for all your support.

jmx

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A man's got to know
his limitations