Hi all,
Apologies if there's too much information in this - it's just nice to have the opportunity to put all of my thoughts down in writing.
I've hardly posted on Talking Point but have regularly read the posts here to help me to understand this cruel disease.
Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 9 years ago but we're sure he was suffering from it for at least three years before that.
Four years ago he got pneumonia and we were told to prepare to say goodbye. Amazingly he got through it but, in the time he was in hospital, he forgot how to walk.
I persuaded mum to buy a second hand wheelchair adapted vehicle and have used that to take Dad out as often as I could so he wasn't just stuck in the house (Mum doesn't drive).
On Saturday we were planning to do the Bristol Memory Walk - I was going to push Dad around in his wheelchair as I've done before.
His carers were hoisting him into his wheelchair when he cried out in pain and then went into a massive seizure.
We called 999 and the ambulance crew were amazing - particularly as we informed them straight away that we had a DNR in place (Dad was unable to do anything for himself).
My sister arrived at this point and we decided that I should continue with the Memory Walk so she dropped me at the start before following the ambulance to the hospital.
I've done a number of different things over the years but this 4.km walk over flat ground was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. However, I felt I owed it to everybody who had sponsored me.
Once I finished the walk I walked to the hospital and it now seems like I'm constantly there.
Yesterday we were told that this was it - mainly because he can no longer swallow.
Today all of the final bits were put into place with a move to a private room and a a syringe pump fitted to him to handle his drugs.
Part of me wishes he had gone whilst led on the floor in his house, part of me just doesn't want him to go.
Mum is in a terrible state and I'm having to stay strong so I can support her when all I want to do is burst into tears every five minutes..
I have to say that my wife is being fantastic - staying both close and distant depending on my mood.
Hopefully the end will come sooner rather than later.
Really sorry for the rambling - I just HATE this awful disease.
Apologies if there's too much information in this - it's just nice to have the opportunity to put all of my thoughts down in writing.
I've hardly posted on Talking Point but have regularly read the posts here to help me to understand this cruel disease.
Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 9 years ago but we're sure he was suffering from it for at least three years before that.
Four years ago he got pneumonia and we were told to prepare to say goodbye. Amazingly he got through it but, in the time he was in hospital, he forgot how to walk.
I persuaded mum to buy a second hand wheelchair adapted vehicle and have used that to take Dad out as often as I could so he wasn't just stuck in the house (Mum doesn't drive).
On Saturday we were planning to do the Bristol Memory Walk - I was going to push Dad around in his wheelchair as I've done before.
His carers were hoisting him into his wheelchair when he cried out in pain and then went into a massive seizure.
We called 999 and the ambulance crew were amazing - particularly as we informed them straight away that we had a DNR in place (Dad was unable to do anything for himself).
My sister arrived at this point and we decided that I should continue with the Memory Walk so she dropped me at the start before following the ambulance to the hospital.
I've done a number of different things over the years but this 4.km walk over flat ground was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. However, I felt I owed it to everybody who had sponsored me.
Once I finished the walk I walked to the hospital and it now seems like I'm constantly there.
Yesterday we were told that this was it - mainly because he can no longer swallow.
Today all of the final bits were put into place with a move to a private room and a a syringe pump fitted to him to handle his drugs.
Part of me wishes he had gone whilst led on the floor in his house, part of me just doesn't want him to go.
Mum is in a terrible state and I'm having to stay strong so I can support her when all I want to do is burst into tears every five minutes..
I have to say that my wife is being fantastic - staying both close and distant depending on my mood.
Hopefully the end will come sooner rather than later.
Really sorry for the rambling - I just HATE this awful disease.