My Father, the best Care Giver
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 4:50 pm
I am new to this forum in seek of some feedback after my 74 YOA mother entered the hospital just recently for a UTI and the flu. I saw this post and wanted to say that my mom has the best husband ever, my father.
My mom has very progressive MS. She is in a wheel chair, no use of any limbs, has a feeding tube and most of the time very limited speaking ability. She has been in a wheel chair for around 15 years, and has suffered with MS for about 35-40 years. My parents just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary and my dad who is 73 has taken care of my mom the whole time. She still lives at home and my dad only has some help from a couple nurses a few hours a day.
My dad designed and helped built her a house specific to her needs when she became bound to a wheelchair. He takes my mom to church every Sunday and last year took her on a vacation and before that numerous times to visit us kids scattered around the states.
My dad even at 73 will not succumb to let her go into a assisted living/nursing home even though he too is getting older. Thats another topic for another forum. But I believe there many other family members, husbands, wives etc who care for their loved ones like my dad has as well.
If you are one frustrated with your loved ones condition, difficulties or hurdles it is understandable, but don't give up. Imagine what they are going through, how they feel...guilt, frustration, pain on and on.
Because of my dad, and despite her terrible condition, she has lived a pretty good life and is still so happy and remarkably content. She learned her life is very limited and that won't change, but she has family and an incredible husband. Her mind and memory is still that of a much much younger woman. If she was tossed to a nursing home a long time ago, I believe her will to live would be gone and she may not be here today.
So, for everyone who has a loved one with MS remember they are always suffering more than you and they are a person too with a very different and unpredictable disease.
My mom has very progressive MS. She is in a wheel chair, no use of any limbs, has a feeding tube and most of the time very limited speaking ability. She has been in a wheel chair for around 15 years, and has suffered with MS for about 35-40 years. My parents just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary and my dad who is 73 has taken care of my mom the whole time. She still lives at home and my dad only has some help from a couple nurses a few hours a day.
My dad designed and helped built her a house specific to her needs when she became bound to a wheelchair. He takes my mom to church every Sunday and last year took her on a vacation and before that numerous times to visit us kids scattered around the states.
My dad even at 73 will not succumb to let her go into a assisted living/nursing home even though he too is getting older. Thats another topic for another forum. But I believe there many other family members, husbands, wives etc who care for their loved ones like my dad has as well.
If you are one frustrated with your loved ones condition, difficulties or hurdles it is understandable, but don't give up. Imagine what they are going through, how they feel...guilt, frustration, pain on and on.
Because of my dad, and despite her terrible condition, she has lived a pretty good life and is still so happy and remarkably content. She learned her life is very limited and that won't change, but she has family and an incredible husband. Her mind and memory is still that of a much much younger woman. If she was tossed to a nursing home a long time ago, I believe her will to live would be gone and she may not be here today.
So, for everyone who has a loved one with MS remember they are always suffering more than you and they are a person too with a very different and unpredictable disease.