The Wholehearted Carer

What do I think I arsed up? B fell in night when she was going to the loo and none of us heard her. She fell out the toilet door and smashed a big floor vase in the hall. I can’t believe none of us heard it and the dog didn’t bark! B had sent a WhatsApp voice message to family chat at 0100 asking for help but none of us heard that either. When I came downstairs at 7 I did notice the vase was broken but thought maybe the dog had knocked it over. It was only at 9 when I listened to the message that I realised what had happened  and rushed to check her.

Feelings: Guilt 😔 Fear

Thoughts to self: How did nobody hear her? She could have been so hurt! Imagine she’d been concussed … she could have lain there for 6 hours… bleeding out 😱( and other spiralling, over dramatic, guilt worries 😟)

Reality Check: (aka ‘ What I’d say to a friend in the same situation’ ) It was an accident. B has a slight scrape to her back and another bruise on her bum but is physically OK. She got herself up and back to bed which is brilliant. Bless her that she didn’t shout because she ‘didn’t want to wake everyone up’ 🤦🏻‍♀️. The Vase had a crack already and split cleanly and wasn’t sharp. There were 3 other people in the house and a dog and no-one heard the fall or the voice note. This suggests it wasn’t loud and you were all sleeping soundly. Due to increased falls we had discussed a fall alarm just last week, but you were so sure you’d hear it. You didn’t hear it. You’ve learned. This shows you do need to action a fall alarm ASAP.

All’s well that ends well,  have a hug and breathe 🤗