Broke my heart

August 23, 2023

Gwen broke my heart today. She asked “Am I going to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life?” What do I tell her? Lie and say oh no you will be up and around soon or you have PSP which start with “Progressive” meaning yes you will most likely be consigned to a wheelchair the remainder of your too short, for me, life.

What happened?

Today we brought a man out to fit her for a custom wheelchair which Medicare will pay for every five years. He told her she needed a 60 pound wheelchair which reclines and is very comfortable. She is pretty darn smart and connected all the dots – “I’m in a wheelchair forever and it’s really heavy so no more MDX SUV. From now on it’s the wheelchair accessible Chrysler minivan. Plus he told her he went to A&M but we could see he was not wearing the ring so we both thought he was lying.

What are we going to do? I don’t know. I did not really like the guy either but I don’t like anyone very much. We have an appointment with UTSouthwestern on September 5 for a wheelchair fitting. Maybe we will wait until then?

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Posted by molson46

A Saturday Morning in the life of a care giver

August 19, 2023

Aug 19, 2023 at 1:43 PM: This was my day until 1:30 this afternoon.

  • Gwen up at 7:00
  • Fixed breakfast for both of us and ate
  • Prepared vitamins for Gwen and gave her vitamins
  • Exercised Gwen’s arms outside before the heat set in
  • Washed Gwen’s face and cleaned her teeth.
  • I took a shower and got dressed
  • Drove with Gwen to the Eataly in Northpark to buy bread. They have her favorite bread.
  • On the way home ordered Ice Tea and French fries for her at McDonald’s. It was 10:50 and they don’t server fires until 11:00. So we waited in the parking lot for her fries and then got in line to order them
  • Gave Gwen a shower
  • Shaved Gwen’s legs
  • It’s 1:30

This a typical day in the life of a care giver. I hate to be someone like her who needs this much attention in a nursing home.

I’m taking my first break of the day for a cup of coffee.

Then’s us make her lunch and do more exercises.

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Posted by molson46