The extra load
Thanks Hazel. Here goes at my second attempt at bringing you all up to date.
On hearing How Jean was, our daughter's husband returned from work in the Czech Republic to support her. At the same time his Mom entered the same hospital suffering with cancer, needing a blood transfssion. She has been given only months to live. Also in the hospital is our son-in-law's Mom, with an infected leg. She's in an isolation ward and there's fear for the leg. As if that's not enough, when I returned from visiting our daughter's MIL on Christmas day, I ended up being ill next day. It's possible I picked up a bug from the hospital, as I endured 9 hours of vomiting, diarrhea and retching even when I had nothing inside me. Only now am I getting over it, having lost over half a stone I feel weak. There were times I felt I was dying. At my age it's harder to take, I thank God I've kept fit. The only person I've seen has been our daughter, made in the image of her Mom. She even stopped over the one night! Sorry, what I've seen in the hospital scares the life out of me. From what I've seen when it comes to treating AD suffers it's no wonder some become agitated. The good thing in Jean's case, I was allowed to take part and have a say in her final hours of treatment. Over the years medical staff have gotten to know me and accept I knew her best of all. Being with a loved one 24/7 365days a year for years on end I learned the illness follows the same path. It's not unlike growing old, it sneaks up on you. You find you are still able to do simple things, but you get slower and before you know it, you can no longer do things you use to. Only with AD it's a bumpy ride, like hide and seek.
In the past few months Jean would go into a deep sleep, her hands go limp, lift her eye lid, there'd be nothing. After a while she'd awake and her grip would be ok. Only it would happen more and more. It happened often in her final hours. There's so very much I could write about, but for now I must mention the funeral was in the 18th. I'll tell you about that another time.
I've just learned our son is too ill to get in touch with me, not sure what the problem is. I'm hoping to be recoved by tomorrow. Until then may I wish you all peace and recovery, to allow you to see and count your blessings.
May your God go with you and help the healing. Padraig