How are things with your daughter? Not long ago, you and I had similar concerns about our daughters'
marital situations, and our granddaughters.
Last night when I visited my hospice patient I thought of you and Joyce and Laura and others whose
mothers (parents) are facing end-of-life health challenges. My hospice patient is bedridden with
cancer and now her skin is unbearably and uncontrollably itchy. Benadryl wasn't working so now she's
being given morphine to try to minimize the discomfort. Several times yesterday evening she woke up
long enough to plead for help, and when I tried to find the elusive spot, my touching her was almost
as bad as the irritation. The daughter, who is her sole caregiver, is still working her own business
(as a chiropractor), and the toll of caregiving is very apparent on her body and face. In the year
that I've been visiting, the daughter looks like she's gained about 50 lbs. I asked how she was
holding up with this new stress and she said she was tired. Very tired. I left feeling very grateful
that my own mother's health is good for the moment and that my father's dying was relatively short
and painfree.
I wish like anything you could catch a break. What stage of Alzheimer's is your mother? Is in-home
hospice, paid by Medicare, an option? I'm not familiar with the particulars of certifying someone
with Alzheimer's for hospice, but I do know that it can be done. At least then a volunteer could
come in and spell you on a regular, even daily, basis. And Medicare's hospice benefit also provides
for respite care...
My apologies if I've stuck an unwelcome nose in.
Prairie Roots
On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:25:10 GMT, "Lesanne" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>I don't know if I can vent it, It is really just leftovers from the stresses last month I think,
>added to too much sweet junk brought home with me from my last trip. And back at home with no
>breaks in the forseeable future.
>
>"Joyce" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> meh - half a pound is nothin' hon, bet you'll sweat that off in no time at
>all. I
>> like to think of those half pound gains as routine maintenance. Anything
>you
>> care to vent on the group? Might just help ya feel better.
>>
>> Joyce
>>
>> On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 13:21:43 GMT, "Lesanne" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Oh well, up a half pound (and it is lucky I am doing an average or it
>would
>> >be worse)
>> >
>> >Lesanne
>> >365/158/155
>> >
>> >(by the way, I have been crashing and burning here)
>> >
>
