For the sake of streamlining and time efficiency, I'm grouping my replies together in one post...
Thank you, Dave! Thank you for the prayers - they are much appreciated and needed.
Regarding my weight loss, on Jan 28th, I was 215 lbs (the heaviest I have ever been in my entire life). Yesterday, I was 194 (back to my usual "upper range." I like to be around 185 honestly. I'm 5'10" so that keeps my BMI out of the "obesity" range according to the chart on the doctor's wall... Plus my clothes fit better.
Thank you , Joseph! Now that I've finally been able to settle my tasks into a manageable routine, I will find time to make an occasional afternoon sandwich...
Thank you, Clint! I'll try to make sure I create some "me" time when possible.
Thank you, Blair! I appreciate and need the prayers.
Thank you, Danny! I'll make more of an effort to carve out some "me" time.
Thank you, Jason!
Unfortunately, things will
not slow down until an unfortunate and inevitable event occurs. I will explain more at the end of this post.
Thank you, Jeff! I was a full day...
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For those of you that would like to know, I'd like to explain my current situation in more detail. I have not been trying to be evasive; I have just not had the mental willpower/motivation to expound on my circumstances. I'm getting to the point now where I feel comfortable with some dialogue, so, here's the "short" version...
My Mother has Glioblastoma - a stage 4 brain cancer that is untreatable and has no cure. It's a very aggressive cancer that had a VERY quick onset in her case. I have moved her into my home and I am now her 24/7 caretaker. My step father is also living with me as well now. After his 70 day stay in the hospital this past Fall, he has still not recovered physically and is not able to help me with Mom's care at all (except for being in the same room with her and being able to alert me if she immediately needs something.).
The kids and I visited her in AL the first week in January. She seemed fine then, but maybe just a bit more relaxed than her usual self. I knew she was under a lot of mental and physical stress from her daily tasks of taking care of my step-dad, so I thought that may have played a part of her mood.
While I was back at home during the next couple of weeks, I stated noticing a sharp difference in her communications. She and I usually talk or text almost daily. Her conversations/replies became very short and often confusing to me. My step dad finally alerted me in the third week of January that she has been showing progressive signs of dementia and severe confusion. I insisted that he make her go to the family doctor there just to get a check-up. On Jan 28th, she had her appointment and then went immediately to their local hospital in Marshall County. She spend one night there and the next morning, they immediately transferred her to UAB Medical Center in Birmingham. I went to visit her at UAB and immediately knew something major was wrong. After about 10 days of a mountain of tests/scans, etc., the doctors has a Tumor Board meeting to discuss her case. That is when I got the call on Feb 9th from an Oncologist from UAB. He gave me the diagnosis and said there was nothing else to be done to improve her condition.
On Feb 10th, I drove the kids (and my dog) to their house in Guntersville, dropped them off, and I then drove to UAB to pick of my Mom. We spend one night at their house so that we could gather any clothing, meds, supplies we may need here at my home in Marietta. My son, Ethan, drove one of their cars back so we could all get back here comfortably (Mom has two dogs too).
On Feb 11th, we all drove back to my home and have been here ever since. She will be here until the end.
It has been a huge struggle for me to get accustomed to learning all that needs to be done and also how to effectively do all of those things. Mom requires total care as she is "non compos mentis" and is unable to mentally do anything for herself. I feed all of her meals, give her all the medications, clean her, change her diapers/pajamas, wake her up in the morning, put her to bed at night (which requires me to completely lift her in the air to lay her correctly in position on the bed and anything else that needs to be done throughout the day. I installed a bed rail to ensure she would not fall out at night. When the time comes, Hospice said they could supply a hospital bed.
Mom was in charge of all of their banking and household bills. So, I now have the task of taking over all those duties and researching all that needs to be paid and then getting them paid. That has been a much larger task than I thought. Also, in her last weeks at home with "semi-dementia," Mom started ordering products and some subscription services from late night TV commercials. I've had to investigate all of those to cancel. So far, I have been able to identify and cancel 8 accounts and still have two more to research.
On top of that, as a full time single father, I still have to care for my own two children, my dog, and all of my usual daily household/family duties. Now those usual duties have just increased by adding two more adults and two more dogs to the mix.
Hospice has been some help, fortunately. A nurse (LPN) visits twice per week to check on Mom. A bath aide (CNA) visits twice per week as well to help Mom with that task. A Chaplain comes once per week to help and has been providing us with communion the past two visits. The visitations are not set in stone, so I am constantly on the phone scheduling the various visits from the nurses/aides. Fortunately, Hospice has supplied all of the diapers, "pee pads," Ensure/Boost drink supplements and some cleaners/wipes. They delivered an oxygen machine last week that I'm told will be required later.
So...that is my story. Any prayers are much appreciated.
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