To All:
Jimmie my heart goes out to you and to your granddaughter and Sarah. You have had much too much on your plate and yet you are there for all of us who flounder around in our time of despair and need. You help lift our spirits when they are at the lowest ebb with your kind and caring words. Somewhere in your life you must have been a poet or a repressed poet that is now coming out to share your words with others who appreciate the sympolism and the strength of your words. How is it that we can love someone in the abstract but I do believe we love you for all you are.
To-day has been an up and down day. Daughter left with our son for Vancouver, I live in the valley and daughter was at our home yesterday evening. She and her husband drove over to have dinner with us and our daughter who lives here was also there. Gayle, baby of the family stayed overnight. Son, John came to pick her up in her truck to pick up a chair I had to move out as we will be getting a hospital bed for John sometime next week. The bed we purchased from Sleep Country is good but does not have side rails so we are moving furniture to accomodate the hospital bed that palliative care provides. We are fortunate that our family is so supportive, of course Gayle the youngest one and our oldest daughter seems to know how to set up for rehab, etc. I sit back and let them go to it as they are adults and see things clearer than I do at this time.
John has gone down hill quite quickly with his dimentia. I spoke to the Palliative care nurse and we agreed John should stay home. He is comfortable here, I get plenty of help and will be provided with more hours as his dimentia and cancer-heart-diabetes-kidney problems progress and then make a decision for hospice or what needs to be done. I would have to travel by bus to a care home or hospital if John was placed there as I do not drive. Have no periferal vision so never learned. Also, at home he will have regular baths, clothing and bed changes regularly as Hospitals are so understaffed, as we learned when he was in hospital for a month a year ago that we did all the baths, feeds, etc. The palliative care nurses are great and have helped me a lot.
John has forgotten his childrens names at times. Even asked me who I was to-day as he is losing more eye sight and is very deaf even with hearing aides. He has macular degeneration and it has gotten worse, also one blind eye. As the kids noted, dad answers to your voice not ours. Thank goodness he is not demanding as yet and is easy to care for. Of course, helping him out of bed is difficult so do not do that alone, wait for the care aide or our kids and let him sit in his wheel chair or lazy boy for an hour or so to help change his positions from sleeping hours at a time.
Thank you Jimmie for asking and thank you to all for your messages. They keep me afloat when I feel myself drifting into self pity. Your words cheer me up and keep me going for another day and I know all is well with the world.
It is raining to-day and a bit dark so I am going to turn on the fireplace and relax. Daughter is coming over after work for an hour or soand will enjoy her company.
To all. Take care.
Xenia