Out of the blue today, Lynn asked me to write about advocacy. He said, “Please stress to your readers the importance of having an advocate or being one for yourself,” so here goes. When Lynn and I first got married, we were both very independent. Both of us had been married before, and both of […]
If you are a full-time caregiver, or even part-time, but the primary person responsible for someone else’s care, then you know all about paperwork. It’s another one of the unpleasant aspects of caregiving that we have to endure but are all too often unprepared for or unfamiliar with. I’m very fortunate in that I have
Keeping up with the Paper Work Read More »
Ever since Lynn became disabled, I’ve had lots of encouragement to get some help. I know I need help. My muscles hurt from overuse; I get frustrated trying to do everything I need to do. I know that there is a high risk as a caregiver that I will have a shorter lifespan. So why
Why is Getting Help so Hard to do? Read More »
Lynn has started a new MS medication–at least new for him. It’s Rebif, an interferon beta-1a therapy that is supposed to slow disease progression, reduce the development of lesions, and reduce exacerbation occurrences. Sounds like a good drug, but it’s also used primarily for relapsing-remitting forms of MS, and Lynn may be into secondary progression
Free to a Good Home…with patience Read More »
I have always enjoyed a good movie. It’s one of the things I miss about not being able to get out and go places now. However, you don’t have to go out to see a movie anymore; you can now do it in the comfort of your own home and with the benefit of a
Going to the Movies Read More »
When I was trying to decide what to write about this week, I had a hard time coming up with something unique. I’ve touched on many of the hardships and challenges associated with being a caregiver, but as I look out the window at all the new growth for spring, I am also thinking of all
I follow the writings of another caregiver, Patrick, who has been caring for his wife, who has MS, for 22 years. Patrick recently discovered he had cancer, and one of the comments he made in his blog struck home with me. Patrick described how he hid the truth of his illness from his wife so
The Secret Life of a Caregiver Read More »
If you are a caregiver for someone dependent on you for everything, you know that there is no such thing as a “quick run” anywhere when you take the person you are caring for with you. Today, Lynn and I had an appointment with an attorney to sign our wills, power of attorney, and medical
Short Trip but Major Planning Read More »
I thought I was beyond grieving about how things had changed. …or maybe we are never completely finished grieving over the loss. It seems to come back when you’re not expecting it, which, in many ways, makes it harder to handle. Here’s what brought it on this week. Every morning, as I’m preparing Lynn’s morning
Grieving over things lost Read More »
I’m going to be a grandma for the first time in June! My daughter is having a little boy, and I’ve been more than a little excited since the first moment I heard the news (which was about two days after she knew she was pregnant). She and her husband are going to make great
It is Lynn’s belief that if he accepts that he has MS, then he is allowing MS to “have” him. He says that he has seen enough people who are struggling along, maybe feeling bad, but still going along until they find out they have a serious condition. Then, as soon as they accept that they
When I was a child, I loved working pencil and paper puzzles. You know the ones I’m talking about? There were dots, numbers, or letters on a page and as you connected the dots, a picture emerged. What I did not realize at the time was that doing those pictures was actually very educational. I
