Having help can really make a difference

Although Pete got me out of bed 3 times last night, I could at least look forward to my aide coming to care for Pete for 4 hours today. In addition, I had scheduled a massage for all of the pain and strain in my body. I think this really made a difference in how I felt. I felt pretty calm and together and caregiver stress was minimal.

I made chili the day before and warmed it up for dinner with a salad and it was really good. Pete enjoyed it too. I had to help him with his spoon through the meal and he didn’t open his eyes much. After we ate dinner we watched Jeopardy and the end of a movie. Pete is still having trouble getting up out of the chair and into the wheelchair. I have told him that he will have to do the lifting himself because I cannot sue to my back issuses. It appears he is trying harder and showing improvement. We still go back and forth between the wheelchair, walker, red transport chair and grey roller walker. I am always moving these back and forth and to and fro and it can get frustrating.

I want to go back to January 1, 2020 to talk about the night we didn’t sleep because Pete could not swallow and gagged all night long. So, In the morning, I asked him if we should go to the hospital since his condition was not improving. we were at Cocoa Beach at the time and drove about an hour to the Veterans Hospital at Lake Nona. We were there about 5 hours while the doctor and nurses administered a breathing protocal and treatment. Pete seemed to feel better but at one point he was tired of waiting for the discharge and got out of bed by himself ready to leave. Fortunately, I returned just in time to “catch” him and got the nurse to help get him back in bed. They then put the bed alarm on. Eventually, the doctor came in to talk with him and told Pete he has to drink more water, prescribed abuterol and prednisone.

On January 12 we were getting ready to go out for ice cream. Pete was walking to the car using the grey roller and went down a slight incline on the sidewalk and then fell to his knees. He got going just a little too fast and I had just walked about 10 feet in front of him. Fortunately a nice man came along and helped me lift Pete to his feet. I checked his knees to see they were skuffed up pretty good. Without saying a word I put the hospital address in my phone and drove there but we did stop for ice cream on the way. When we got there at the hospital, Pete asked where we were and I told him I just decided to go because I needed to be sure he wa ok. they did x-rays and cleaned up his wounds and we were there again about 5 hours. But it was good to know he was alright axcept for the pain in his knees.

Now Pete cannot walk or stand very well. His injuries have hammpered his mobility even more so. On Wednesday, this came to fruition when he fell backwards in the bathroom. I called the front desk and asked if the Maintenance Department could come help. 3 men came quickly and helped Pete up and put him in his chair. Fortunately he was not injured.

Strangely, as the men were helping Pete I felt very emotional and teary eyed. I think it is because I think that one of these falls will indeed be serious.