Saturday, December 11, 2010

What It's Like for Carol's Husband

Bob on the Reading Room wrote a poem that says it all. See Bob's poem.

Dementia
by Max Wallack

It gallops in silently on powerful hoofs
Snatching sweet, precious, forgotten memories
Turning true-blue loyal friends into treacherous strangers
Clogging synapses with emptiness
Crumbling trust into excruciating paranoia
With bleak darkness comes the anxious wakefulness of broad daylight
And bitter terror encompasses every living fiber
"If I sleep, where will I be when I wake up?"
The compulsion to run, the paralysis of fear
Mature, child-like dependence
Retracing youthful development, but in rapid reverse
Cureless medicines, meaningless conversations
Leading up to the inevitable


Increasingly DH is asking questions about what the schedule is.  I do not at all tease him when he asks repeat questions, despite the fact everything is on the large FlyLady calendar.

We enjoyed a dinner at Cracker Barrell last night with a couple my husband had known years ago. He was very comfortable. They noticed that he had lost weight since they had seen him. They are part of his long-term memory. I don't think that they really noticed his dementia last night.

On the way home from this dinner he asked about where he worked when he retired over a year ago--he didn't remember. I reminded him that we passed it on the way home.  I need to go there, he said. We have a Christmas party to go to tonight and we will go by that business and also where we lived when we were first married over ten years ago.

Somewhat in denial about memory, he enjoys his days and trusts me. Often he tells me he loves me. We do normal socializing at this stage. I am blessed each day.

4 comments:

  1. It's so hard to see the person we love, in a state of confusion at times..... and then we're so thankful for the good moments.

    One day at a time is what I constantly tell myself.....and......... God will never give us more than we can handle.., and for that I am so thankful.

    I hope the Christmas party goes well tonight!
    Hugs and prayers for you all!

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  2. I hope you had a great time at the party. And I pray for many more good days for you two.

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  3. Thanks, Dolores and Karen. It was a great evening. The guests started singing carols and I went to their piano and accompanied them. My husband interacted with ease with the guests. I notice his memory is not always accurate, but I don't correct him if it is not necessary.LOL He certainly could not testify in court anymore, nor be a juror. But he is happy.

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  4. Praise our kind God for His daily blessings. This was a good report!

    I pray your Christmas will be a good one!

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