I am so thankful to be on Fall Break this week so I can help Mom and Dad get some things done around their house. I've also taken Dad on lots of errands. He enjoys getting out of the house and seeing a change of scenery. We've been to doctor's appointments, the post office, Walgreens, Belk, and Walmart. He also wanted to stop by the Senior Center to see what they offer. He has spoken with several people around town about coming and hanging out at their place of business just to have some interaction and company. It's hard to go from working 40-60 hours a week for years and years and constantly being around people to being home...bored and lonely. Everyone has been so gracious...the guys at Thomaston Ford always welcome him with open arms, offering him a coke and a seat. They treat him like royalty. They have also offered to pick him up anytime he wants to come out there and Mom doesn't feel like taking him. Dad has not driven in about 6 months...by his choice. He just felt that with his diagnosis, it was too big a risk to take in case of an accident. His mind is very clear right now; his memory is good. I have no doubt he wouldn't get lost or confused driving...I just fear that he is so physically shaky and week, and I don't trust his reflexes or response time. I'm glad he agrees and is willing to sit back and be chauferred. David Pasley has welcomed him at Piggie Park anytime he wants to hang out, as has Jeff Ellington at the Potting Shed. Some days he just needs some stimulation and conversation, and I'm so thankful for all of these sweet friends who are stepping up to the plate!
It was really tough to visit the Senior Center. Dad has had along relationship with this establishment through Big C. He has done Diabetic shoe fittings there, diabetes education programs, flu shots, and more. Donna Auth, the director, is a wonderful lady who has always welcomed the services we offer. Dad got very teary today in there. It's tough to go from the one who provides the services to the one who needs the services. His loss of independence is tough to accept. I know he feels like his purpose is gone, but he just has a new purpose and we have to help him discover that purpose so he can begin working at it! He did discover that there is exercise equipment in there and a pool table, so if anyone wants to go hang out and play pool with him, please let us know! He craves companionship and comraderie right now. In fact, if any of you guys want to call him up and offer to pick him up and just go for a ride, that would be amazing! Ride out to the bluff and look at the leaves, offer to take him to get his mail or run errands, etc. He just needs friends. I can't stress this enough.
We also went to see Dr. Warnock today regarding Dad's reflux. He was already taking 600mg per day of Zantac, the maximum dose. However, his reflux has gotten nearly intolerable. He has constant burning from the pit of his stomach up to this throat. Dr. W switched him to a proton pump inhibitor, Protonix. I am praying that works. LBD patients cannot undergo anesthesia/surgery, so we need easy solutions...not invasive procedures which would require sedation. If this continues to be a problem, we will have to consult with Dr. Hu at Emory to see what procedures are available that would be safe. This is all part of the dysautonomia associated with LBD and Multiple System Atrophy. Every part of the autonomic nervous system is affected...blood pressure, bowel and bladder function, digestion, heart rate, sweating, etc. Dad says that the physical implications scare him much worse than the mental implications. MSA and LBD can both be crippling diseases.
In the coming months, Mom and Dad will be remodeling their house to make it handicap-friendly. The master bath will be designed to accommodate wheelchairs, etc. in case we need that down the road. We are trying to prepare for a future of unknowns the best we can. It's tough planning for financial what-if's, physical what-if's, and mental what-if's....some days we just can't let our minds "go there." Through it all, God has been faithful. His provision never ceases to amaze us. Every time we hit a wall, he opens a door. Every time we feel stuck, he frees us. God is so good...He always has been. But we're noticing His goodness more and more through these hard times.
No comments:
Post a Comment