Hello everyone it has been a long time since I posted on the forum. You may think that it is a bit strange that I am posting now. It was the second anniversary for my lovely Pa this week. I just wanted to acknowledge and raise a glass to my Pa. My Pa was officially diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in December 2019 by a MIBG iodine test and having a diagnosis of Alzheimer's and possibly Lewy Body in May 2019. I cared for my Pa with some carer input after a few months. I managed to get Pa a befriender to visit him for a couple hours when I was at work and a session at day care once a week when I was off work so Pa had some other company and I had some time to sleep, go for a walk washing etc.
Pa had quite a few falls including once down stairs after having a shower during the night as he had had an incident and had to be cleaned up. I could not stop the fall and felt awful. Dad was taken to hospital with a dislocated collar bone. Then in March 2020 lockdown happened and I was told to work at home to protect Pa. So the befriending and daycare stopped. Nephews had to wave to Pa through the window.
It was good to be working from home and being with Pa. I would pop into the sitting room and ask if he wanted a cup of tea and he would say yes if you don't mind ?.
Two years ago Pa had fallen out of bed and I found him head down between the bed and bedside drawers. I got him lying flat on the floor and called family to see if they could help me with Pa but no answer at 1am. So I rang for an ambulance to help me. Pa was ok asking for help then when I went back upstairs to see him he had started to have a fit. So rang for emergency ambulance. They worked on Pa and took him away and I couldn't go with him due to the Covid situation. It broke my heart he looked so frightened. Pa was taken to ITU.. He was very poorly as he had aspirated and been in a fit for 45 minutes. I told the Dr not to give up on Pa as he still had some life in him. Pa survived ITU and came round with his speech and swallowing a little affected. I wasn't allowed to see Pa but used to ring him and chat and sing one of his favourite songs the 12th of Never. He used to sit at the nurses station and watch what was going on. He was doing ok then he fell out of bed and hurt his shoulder again. I wanted to see Pa but then two days later he deteriorated quickly and died before I got to the hospital. I had taken photos to show him but he had died. It was so surreal and I just wished I could have seen him in hospital to encourage him to eat comfort. I spent time with him singing to him and having quiet time with him then called my siblings and close friends . My siblings were allowed to come and see Pa. I was so calm. They wanted to do a postmortem on Pa but after discussing this with family and friends decided to leave Pa in peace. There was a query that he may have developed mesothelioma but he died before that was confirmed. There was no point finding out. My lovely Pa was a kind generous soul who loved his family , worked hard and hated injustice. He helped care for my lovely Mam when she was ill with cancer. Carrying her up and down stairs when she was weak. He would do owt to help people. I wrote the story of his life for his funeral which had to be held at the grave of my Mam with only 15 people supposed to attend but people hid amongst the trees. We played Katherine Jenkins the Lord is my Shepherd by Goodall and I watch the Sunrise recorded by an Irish choir. I read out the poem the Red Red Rose by Robbie Burns. I think I was numb and detached. One sibling was a great support..,.
It was hard looking after Pa in the end but I would do it again if he was still here. Though getting some sleep and time out would have been a great help. Pa was no bother pretty quiet until he had his challenging moments when he would try to hit me and call me worse than muck trying to get him changed for bed. It was his illness.nI did tell him what he had done when he was his usual self and he would say Never in the world sorry about that. He went wandering a few times which was a worry and another story. If he didn't want to do something he would say I don't think so...., I had to take him to daycare as he wouldn't get on the bus he still knew his own mind at times. . I told him every night that I loved him and would see him in the morning. Pa would say I hope so. He is a great miss. Thanks if you have got this far. Thinking of you all.
Pa had quite a few falls including once down stairs after having a shower during the night as he had had an incident and had to be cleaned up. I could not stop the fall and felt awful. Dad was taken to hospital with a dislocated collar bone. Then in March 2020 lockdown happened and I was told to work at home to protect Pa. So the befriending and daycare stopped. Nephews had to wave to Pa through the window.
It was good to be working from home and being with Pa. I would pop into the sitting room and ask if he wanted a cup of tea and he would say yes if you don't mind ?.
Two years ago Pa had fallen out of bed and I found him head down between the bed and bedside drawers. I got him lying flat on the floor and called family to see if they could help me with Pa but no answer at 1am. So I rang for an ambulance to help me. Pa was ok asking for help then when I went back upstairs to see him he had started to have a fit. So rang for emergency ambulance. They worked on Pa and took him away and I couldn't go with him due to the Covid situation. It broke my heart he looked so frightened. Pa was taken to ITU.. He was very poorly as he had aspirated and been in a fit for 45 minutes. I told the Dr not to give up on Pa as he still had some life in him. Pa survived ITU and came round with his speech and swallowing a little affected. I wasn't allowed to see Pa but used to ring him and chat and sing one of his favourite songs the 12th of Never. He used to sit at the nurses station and watch what was going on. He was doing ok then he fell out of bed and hurt his shoulder again. I wanted to see Pa but then two days later he deteriorated quickly and died before I got to the hospital. I had taken photos to show him but he had died. It was so surreal and I just wished I could have seen him in hospital to encourage him to eat comfort. I spent time with him singing to him and having quiet time with him then called my siblings and close friends . My siblings were allowed to come and see Pa. I was so calm. They wanted to do a postmortem on Pa but after discussing this with family and friends decided to leave Pa in peace. There was a query that he may have developed mesothelioma but he died before that was confirmed. There was no point finding out. My lovely Pa was a kind generous soul who loved his family , worked hard and hated injustice. He helped care for my lovely Mam when she was ill with cancer. Carrying her up and down stairs when she was weak. He would do owt to help people. I wrote the story of his life for his funeral which had to be held at the grave of my Mam with only 15 people supposed to attend but people hid amongst the trees. We played Katherine Jenkins the Lord is my Shepherd by Goodall and I watch the Sunrise recorded by an Irish choir. I read out the poem the Red Red Rose by Robbie Burns. I think I was numb and detached. One sibling was a great support..,.
It was hard looking after Pa in the end but I would do it again if he was still here. Though getting some sleep and time out would have been a great help. Pa was no bother pretty quiet until he had his challenging moments when he would try to hit me and call me worse than muck trying to get him changed for bed. It was his illness.nI did tell him what he had done when he was his usual self and he would say Never in the world sorry about that. He went wandering a few times which was a worry and another story. If he didn't want to do something he would say I don't think so...., I had to take him to daycare as he wouldn't get on the bus he still knew his own mind at times. . I told him every night that I loved him and would see him in the morning. Pa would say I hope so. He is a great miss. Thanks if you have got this far. Thinking of you all.