CHAPTER 54

2025-06-04

One year after my wife passed away, my V2IP, very very important person (Lun) asked about his mother.

As soon as I stepped into the group home, I saw a staff member loudly telling Lun  "Dad is here." I heard his "woohoo" complaint and hurried to his bedroom to see what was going on. He was sweating profusely and looked anxious. As soon as he saw me, he put away the activity book on the half-length wardrobe. This action showed that he thought he would go out to do something. This book can be posted with photos and placed on the counter for Lun to read and know the main activities and schedule of the day. He also has the habit of putting away the photos and completing the procedures after finishing the activities.

Another staff member told me that Lun had been very uneasy since the morning, with signs of abdominal pain and kept complaining. This is most likely the pain caused by the discharge of kidney stones in the body. The staff has given Lun painkillers and sedatives according to the dormitory's nursing rules. If this condition continues, an ambulance will be called after dinner to take Lun to the hospital emergency room. For this reason, the staff gave Lun a shower early. The staff also notified Lun's attending doctor, who immediately sent the surgery consent form to the group home for parents to sign, and I signed it too.

The group home’s operations have been changed, with new personnel and new style. If roommates go to the hospital emergency room, an ambulance must be called, and staff cannot drive the roommate to the hospital themselves. Parents can accompany them. I immediately sent a message to my younger son to let him know.

Fifteen days ago, Lun underwent a day surgery to break up kidney stones because the previous surgery was not successful. When I visited Lun in the evening the day after the latest surgery, he still had to take painkillers.

Lun was sweating profusely. To prevent him from dehydration, the staff handed Lun a glass of soda, which he later drank. The group home usually provides clean water and healthy drinks to roommates, but this time was an exception. Lun sat down to eat dinner, not in a hurry, not complaining about stomach ache, rather with occasionally smiling, and willing to drink water. The two staff members kept observing Lun while feeding other roommates. They saw that he ate half of his dinner and was very satisfied.

After dinner, Lun went to bed to rest. I also prepared psychologically to accompany him for the whole night. During this time, the staff told me that last Friday evening, the day after our wedding anniversary, Lun looked at the staff for the first time and asked: "Mama?" The staff was surprised, but calmly replied: "Mom and Dad are at home." The staff emphasized that Lun slept soundly that night. I was very grateful to the staff for telling me this and replied: "This is true (my wife's ashes have been kept in the bedroom). Maybe Mom visited Lun."

Lun's thoughts about his mother are not bitter wine, but sweet rain for me.

I went to Lun's bedside and asked him if he had a stomachache? He smiled and put my hand on the small warm pillow covering his lower abdomen. I briefly told him the reason for the stomachache in a mixture of Chinese and English, twice before and after. Soon after he heard this, he got up, took the cup I had placed on the counter, pushed it to me, waved his right hand towards the door, and said, "Go." He ordered me to leave. Lun is my very x 2 important person, more important than myself. Although I am his father, I must obey this order. The staff looked at me and laughed. She promised that if Lun's pain recurred and he needed to be hospitalized, she would notify me immediately.

While the daylight was still there, I drove to the big park behind the house and took a walk to comfort myself.