Archive for October 1st, 2007

My mind is whirling many thoughts around after a conversation today – the lady I was talking with feels there is still a stigma regarding Alzheimer’s and families don’t want to admit their loved one has been diagnosed.

For me, it was the biggest relief to finally know and verbalize the diagnosis. Maybe it shared the load.

One day a patient came in and just seemed “off”. I went over to him and sat down. “You Ok?”
He turned to me and burst into tears. His brother had just passed away and the other brother was now in a nursing home in advanced stage of Alzheimer’s. W had just been officially diagnosed the day before. I hugged him in his pain.

After the appointment, he said, “Are you Ok?” I told him W had been diagnosed – I’ll never forget him as he was the first “stranger” I told and it was a relief. Only saw him a couple more times after that but he remains special to me.

Today I had my right leg injected. Anyway, after I assured her RN that I was fine putting my stocking on, it wasn’t in my bag. What to do? Well, go like mad to the car to get home and put one on.

I grabbed W’s hand and ran to the car because they had 30 cotton balls taped to my leg – one over each injection site. We had to pass a Tim Horton’s and had visions of cotton balls dropping like bread crumbs as we ran.

Dr. B. would not be pleased with me.

Anyway, this morn his nibs “declined” a bath – said he’d just sit in the car if he looked too bad to take in the office with me. W- 1, J – 0 He won. Interesting comment as I’ve never said he had to shower for appearances.
Thank goodness I had his hair cut shorter than usual – we had to go as we were. It doesn’t really bother me but I have to admit he looked a bit like a punk rocker as wee bits of hair stuck up defiantly.

May I present the “Punk Rocker Cotton Ball Duo?”

For some reason, Blogger doesn’t allow me to open up comments today except for Ruth’s site. Maybe that is wise:)

Anyway, perhaps later I will be able to – thinking of all you folks.

Life is simple yet complex. So many things affect others and cross over. A simple example is a grocery list – if I write categories such as canned, etc., then we run into canned soup which is canned but – - – over in it’s own special aisle.

In this light, I’m debating writing on one blog – started blogging in January this year on Welcome to Our World and in July started the Mountain. But life crosses over.

Life has changed rather dramatically since January, also. Someone commented to me that the Mountain is sad and upsetting. Felt badly for her as it’s not meant to upset but hopefully inform or at least toss out the odd gem of wisdom. (She is a dear friend)

Our journey with Alzheimer’s felt as if walking through a vale – now, as it challenges us more, I compared to ascending a mountain. Maybe not Everest but a mountain never the less.