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So, yesterday was a winner. We had sunshine, new summer slacks and DQ!

I arrived at his room to find him on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. If he were at home, I’d have a bag of tricks to make his day sunny – like offering pizza!

I think there is an AD angel, well, I know there is! I thought of DQ.
“How about a soft ice cream cone at DQ?” His eyes lit up and he jumped off the bed. It was so funny as I wasn’t sure there was a DQ in the little city where he lives. After two querries, we roared up to DQ, ordered and enjoyed.

It’s interesting, we used to go to DQ for supper about once a month after our long work day. I was thinking last night about how lucky it was that we did, as this seemed to twig a good memory.

Wayne had a bit of trouble removing the paper from the cone, I helped and was amused to see he ate the cone til it was about a half inch high.

“Aren’t you going to eat the rest?”

He eyed it and very firmly said no. I wondered about his reasoning.

Bought him new soft cotton cargo pants for summer. They have elasticized waist but tailored with a fly and belt hoops. He looked very spiffy!:)

I opened the ward door, looking toward the secured patio. There stood Wayne and a lady, hand in hand like two school children.

Much as I am warned (in order to be prepared), it tears me up.

He saw me and dropped her like a hot potato. When he ran to me, she followed and ran her hands urgently over his arm – the aides took her. Many hugs later, we sat in the common area, enjoying a coffee. A shadow darted back and forth, she was spying on us from the depths of an artificial plant.

So, I had wondered how the nurses knew when Wayne got out of bed – there is a soft bell attached to his bed, if his weight is removed from the bed, it chimes at the nursing station.

This is especially useful in the night as he is prone to wandering a bit now.

Drugs which help for AD patients are available. Some folks can’t tolerate the meds, some can’t afford it and some (or their family) decide to “let nature takes it’s course”.

All prescribed drugs have a purpose and I have to say Aricept was a miracle drug for us. Within 2 weeks, Wayne had clarity and was morehis old self. His first Rx was written 01/04 and I still call it a miracle how he responded.

Not sure why it was so helpful for him, maybe because he rarely took anything, avoided even Aspirin. His biggest side effect was night mares for the first while – I don’t remember how long the nightmares lasted as it’s like a big, bad continuing dream anyway.

Aricept has very good AD general info in their site – I believe they also may help if one can’t afford the drug.

Initially, the drug was paid wholly by Wayne and I – it was expensive but one has to choose what is worth what in life. Happily, now our provincial government helps with the cost.

If you know someone rocking on the precipice of AD or has been diagnosed, please suggest they check with their specialist re: AD drugs. Our family MD did not prescribe it – his locum did during a routine visit – We are forever grateful to her.

Please bear with me – can’t write but I recall the little story of the engine, “I think I can, I think I can.”

Maybe later today the big black cloud will lift – the sun did just break through high overcast:)