Posted on 10/19/2001 11:26:03 PM PDT by RaceBannon
Many of us ask for prayer at different times. I admit, I havent always bumped these threads, nor have I always read those who bumped them to me. For that I am sorry. Tonight I must ask for prayer for my family and especially my Mom. My Dad was put in the home today for his Alzhiemers disease.
It hard because you realize that there is no going back to the wonderful times you had as a child with everybody there and responsible but still again it happens, blunt but true.
We all who have and are going through this know or will know time heals all heartaches, praise our merciful Father who is the God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the confort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
He has and will provide for all our needs for He will never leave us nor forsake us.
My 82 year old Mother died within 3 weeks of entering a nursing home with AD and a broken heart about 14 years ago and cruel as it may sound it was a blessing for her and all who saw her in that condition.
God is so good.
My Dad is going on 96 and is now in a care center fully and lovingly cared for and we, my sister and I have accepted it with thanksgiving unto God that thts is a better place and expert care is being received that we were unable to give him.
He is doing as well as can be expected and for all intents and purposes satisfied.
Now for a little levity he doesn't know whether he is pickin' or plantin' but the one thing he hasn't completely forgotten which happened about three years ago is the surrendering of his driver's license to the state.
After one not too serious accident(his fault)and numerous close calls with Motor with Motor and Motor with a Fixed Object he was asked to take another driving test with an DPS officer on board, about 65 years after his first and only driving test, which insulted him no end, he flunked it big time and nearly scared the officer out of his skin too boot.
When he parked in front of the Court House he pulled not only into handicapped parking which he was not authorized to do but pulled up onto the wheel chair ramp parked and shut the motor off and got out, the officer asked him if he knew where he parked, told him and my Dad's response was, like most all older people who think everybody younger than them are unqualified to criticize their actions, I didn't hurt anybody did I?
My family is learning that. Race, my prayers are with you, your mom and dad, and entire family.
Watching my mother in law wither away with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), I thought I had seen the worse. Watching my dad... Purple Heart recipient, WWII B17 pilot, Air Traffic Controller, daddy.. come under this disease is breaking my heart. I find a good cry every now and then really helps.. it causes me to remember so many moments he and I shared and makes me to count my blessings for this wonderful man. There's a country song named "She Misses Him" I believe, that really brings on the tears.
Cry a bit... hug him and your mom, share memories and go forward and be the person he expects you to be. I hope God blesses my Husband and I with the many years your parents have had. They raised a dang fine son from what I can tell. Like a previous poster said.. please share your dad with us.
I went through this with my Dad in 1999 and I really understand what your family is dealing with and is feeling.
My prayers for you and your Mom and please understand it is best for your Dad to be in a home that deals with Alzhiemer's.
However, he was already a semi-invalid, subject to TIAs (small strokes). His heart muscles were already giving out. He'd been on oxygen since last spring and needed a walker because he fell so much. He's clearly never going to be healthy again, even granted the best possible outcome of bypass surgery. My Mom's very depressed, realizing this.
I'm stumbling along on autopilot. I've seen a lot of my friends go through this but knowing it's coming someday doesn't really prepare you.
The only thing that keeps us kids going, is that we KNOW our Father would have never wanted us to change him, bath him, feed him, etc. We KNOW he was a proud man, a self-made man and he has his dignity.
You have to think about what your Father, the one you knew, would have wanted. And I don't think he would have wanted your Mother OR you kids to carry this tremendous care giving every single hour of your lives.
Don't be so hard on yourself. The Father you once knew isn't there anymore, but the love is.
sw
You won't get sympathy or understanding from every quarter, and there will be those who won't want to share your suffering, but remember you are not alone. I've been there twice in two years -- it's one of the hardest things you'll ever endure, but the reward for staying the course, no matter how imperfectly, is boundless. My prayers are with you.
Buzz
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