EDITORIAL RESPONSES
/Multiple Editorial Responses/
Editorial List
These are just some of the many responses we
received from several Editorials ending with
Managing Meds
-
Being Taken Seriously
http://caregiver.com/caregiver_newsletter/2010/Caregiver_newsletter092810.html
Four years ago, when I was three months pregnant, my
husband was in a hit and run motorcycle accident. It
left him paralyzed from the waist down and to this
day, I take care of all of his daily living
requirements; even when he's in the hospital. Since
that time, both he and I have experienced
inappropriate attitudes. When my husband
developed a lump on his back a year after his
accident, it took six months before the doctors
would address it. I begged and pleaded that there
was something wrong and his pain was uncontrolled.
His right arm was paralyzed and it turned out he had
spinal cord fluid back up, which at that point
required emergency surgery. In fact, I was
given legal threats, threats to be escorted out of
the hospital for being concerned for my husband's
pain, asked outright if I was creating and
exacerbating his pain issues and told that the lumps
I saw on his back were to be ignored. (Sound
familiar???) In six weeks, he gets his spinal
surgery and our family gets our life back.
What will we do to celebrate? I have no
clue...but hope next August we can renew our vows
for 25 years of marriage.
Faith is the ability to believe in things that
you cannot see.
Hope this helps you to help others.
L.G.
Humor
http://www.caregiver.com/editorials/funny_stuff.htm
I took my father, who has severe dementia, to the eye
doctor. My father has multiple vision issues and
severely dry eyes. As the doctor was examining
him, my dad blurted out, “Well, I’m sure the reason my
eye hurts so much is because earlier today it popped
right out of my head and rolled around on the floor
before I could pick it up and put it back in.”
S.J.
My husband Bob has had two strokes and has Parkinson's
as well. I've been his fearless caregiver for more than
14 years with supplemental part-time helpers. I thought
I'd play a joke on him to perk him up after a bad night.
He's becoming more remote with advancing dementia,
although he never forgets a movie he's seen or a good
meal he's eaten. I sat at the kitchen table stark naked
for one hour reading the newspaper and sometimes
commenting on the news, but Bob didn't bat an eye or
question why I was not dressed. When I called attention
to my lack of clothes, he responded, "Yes, I saw you
naked, but thought you were going to take a shower and
YOU forgot what you were doing. I didn't want to hurt
your feelings."
R.K.
We need to find a way to work together and to appreciate
and respect our differences without allowing them to
tear us apart as a nation. I don't know how we can
heal or grow stronger when we are driven by fear and
hate instead of compassion and forgiveness.
Blessings,
T.J.
My husband, who is in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s
disease, still has his sense of humor and at times
really cracks us up. Recently, his nurse asked,
“What good news do you have today, Mr. S.?” He
immediately said, “The best news I got today is that
Barbara’s not pregnant…thank God!” You see, he was back
in time when we already had three small children and
before the days of birth control medications. In a
few hours. it got around the care center and several
said to me, “I am glad to hear that you’re not pregnant,
Barbara.” Since I am 81 years old, it turned
a dull, serious day into laughs and joy.
Barbara
When my parents were living with us several years ago, I
would get into the shower with my dad every other night.
After the shower, my wife and I would dry Dad off and
Connie would slather him with moisturizing lotion. I
asked him if he wanted to wear boxers or jockey shorts
and he said, “Depends.” We all smiled.
R. T.
