It's with a heavy heart that I tell you Jean, my wife of 52 years passed away at 05.15Hrs on the 12 th.
I'm comforted by the fact that I defied all the rules and refused to let her die in a NH some five years ago, when she was in the end stage. Over the past four years, eight months and 11 plus days, I've been privileged to care for alone, not allowing anyone to touch her but me. During this time she has spoken but two words and been incapable of any movement, rigidity had set in. It has also been my good fortune to be of the same generation and at 76, being in better than an average fitness level, it allowed me to do the caring as well as all the daily tasks around the home.
I've had so many questions from Nurses and Doctors as to how I managed to keep Jean alive so long and in good health. It's a sad fact that so many of the medical profession addmitted they knew little of Alzheimer's. At least they were interested to learn. Even the Doctor who four and a half years ago advised me not to sit holding Jean's hand overnight, as she would pass away when I went to the toilet, or made a drink, paid a visit. In his words I'd performed an incredible astonishing act of love by bringing her back to health.
Strange as it may seem to some, by entering Jean's world I'd got to understand so very much and was rewarded in a way words can't express. I can say, we were both at peace in that world.
After 12 years of AD, the early years were painful when she kept wanting and trying to go home. Now I understand that longing, she's now reached home and the bosum of her departed family also our fifteen year old daughter.
She lit up my life with love, where there'd only been the darkness of a loveless life. She's been my inspiration, with her work done it was time to go. God love her and thank you for sending her to me.
To all you carers out there I pray you receive the strength to carry on and may your God go with you. Padraig
I'm comforted by the fact that I defied all the rules and refused to let her die in a NH some five years ago, when she was in the end stage. Over the past four years, eight months and 11 plus days, I've been privileged to care for alone, not allowing anyone to touch her but me. During this time she has spoken but two words and been incapable of any movement, rigidity had set in. It has also been my good fortune to be of the same generation and at 76, being in better than an average fitness level, it allowed me to do the caring as well as all the daily tasks around the home.
I've had so many questions from Nurses and Doctors as to how I managed to keep Jean alive so long and in good health. It's a sad fact that so many of the medical profession addmitted they knew little of Alzheimer's. At least they were interested to learn. Even the Doctor who four and a half years ago advised me not to sit holding Jean's hand overnight, as she would pass away when I went to the toilet, or made a drink, paid a visit. In his words I'd performed an incredible astonishing act of love by bringing her back to health.
Strange as it may seem to some, by entering Jean's world I'd got to understand so very much and was rewarded in a way words can't express. I can say, we were both at peace in that world.
After 12 years of AD, the early years were painful when she kept wanting and trying to go home. Now I understand that longing, she's now reached home and the bosum of her departed family also our fifteen year old daughter.
She lit up my life with love, where there'd only been the darkness of a loveless life. She's been my inspiration, with her work done it was time to go. God love her and thank you for sending her to me.
To all you carers out there I pray you receive the strength to carry on and may your God go with you. Padraig
