Well I kinda dropped off of the face of blogger lately. Not planned, certainly not wanted. On Wednesday morning, early the phone rang. It was the nurse at my sweetie's nursing facility saying that Gary was non-responsive and perhaps had had a stroke, needed my permission to send for an ambulance to rush him to the hospital. Scrambling to get dressed, I then rushed to the hospital to find him in the emergency room with doctors and nurses working on him offering no answers. Waiting awhile and after my daughter arrived we found out that 1) he was extremely dehydrated and 2) he had a UTI infection (now UTI infections in dementia patients is a bad thing....sends them into a health crisis). His blood pressure was hovering around 55/30 and his heart rate was about 55. The doctor thought his body was closing down. They admitted him to the hospital, continued to pump fluids and antibiotics into him and by Thursday he was starting to react to voices. By then we had pretty well resigned ourselves to perhaps this being his last days with us since we had been told earlier that he could no long swallow either. We were convinced that he was about ready to leave us...but yesterday he began to rally. The Dr. suggested that we investigate his swallowing capabilities and after a speech pathologist ran a few preliminary tests with water, applesauce and graham crackers it was determined that yes, he could swallow and to start him on a pureed diet.
Pureed roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and carrots is not the most appetizing looking meal, but it obviously tasted pretty darn good to someone who had not had a bite to eat in over 3 days. But the hit of the meal was the ice cream. Ice cream is at the top of the food chain for my sweetie. A bowl of ice cream and a cookie was always my secret weapon if I needed or wanted anything from my sweetie.
So we will begin this next journey....a journey that is uncertain as to length. Two days ago I thought the journey had almost come to an end, but that German stubborness and my sweeties incredible will to live proved me and the doctor's wrong. His quality of life is lacking but his will to live undoubtedly outweighs this. This reminds me of the morning glory pictured above....planted many years ago and usually no signs that there is any remains, but undoubtedly each year about this time, one or two flowers bloom, reminding me that life continues when you least expect it.
"Seize the day" ~ Horace
Until next time....
Deanna, I will be praying for you and your sweetie as you begin this next part of the journey.
ReplyDeleteYou all are in my prayers as you head into this next journey.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you and your family and your "sweetie". How wonderful you can still refer to him that way!
ReplyDeleteWow Deanna! Very stressful I am sure, and bet this will have some ramifications for our plans. Will call you this weekend. Sorry to hear about this and will be praying for you on this
ReplyDeleteDeanna, so sorr you had this scare for your Gary! I hope he continues to get stronger and that you are all at peace with the process ahead!
ReplyDeleteHi Deanna So sorry about Gary set back but recovery seem on its way. The Morning Glory is a wonderful shot.
ReplyDeletegosh how sad but looks like things are improving, thinking of youx
ReplyDeleteGlad things are turning around, keeping you in my thoughts
ReplyDeleteoh, deanna, i am sorry - this must have been gut-wrenching for you. i hope he can stabilize into a new existence. bless you both.
ReplyDeleteOh my dear friend...know you being hugged through the universe. I feel your every word-I know you will take in every moment of this new journey. xo
ReplyDeleteSo many ups and downs to navigate with this awful disease -- big hugs my friend.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh ... that had to be so frightening. My heart was racing as I read your post.
ReplyDeleteLife is so dang short and unpredictable .... every moment is precious!
Seize it!
♥
My thoughts and prayers remain with you and your sweetie for the next precious phase. xx
ReplyDeleteSo glad you posted on FB that you had an update on Gary here. I usually don't get an e-mail about a new post until the next day. Glad to hear things are better, at least for now. As always, my thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your family.
ReplyDeleteDeanna - I am so sorry you and Gary are going through this. The swallowing issue is very common and I am surprised that more care facilities are not more on top of it with Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. The will to live is amazing. My continued prayers and hugs for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you both.
ReplyDeleteDeanna - you have been in my heart and prayers since Wednesday. So hard, I know. We never know for sure which way the fork in the road will take us and the road is so rocky, either way. Embrace what time you have. {I can truly empathize because it sounds so similar to things my step-father has experienced.} Blessings and strength, my dear friend. xo
ReplyDeleteYour post brought me to tears... none of us knows the day or hour the Lord has picked to take us home, life is short and precious, every moment. Your sweetness and grace are beautiful Deanna... I am praying for you during these difficult days.
ReplyDeletePraying for you. Never underestimate German stubbornness :)
ReplyDeletePrayers for you and Gary.
ReplyDeletePrayers and love going out to you both from Seabright.
ReplyDeletePam oxoxoxoxox
Still praying hard for you both. You seem to meet these challenges with more strength each day.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the time they called my mom, brother, and me up to my dad's room so they could get us to sign a DNR for him....and told us he wasn't going to make it through the night. We didn't sign. They were wrong. He lived two more months. The beginning of the end is so hard to endure and you and your family will be in my constant prayers. Hugs to you all.
ReplyDeleteI so admire your spirit, Deanna.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my thoughts and prayers. xo.
Deanna...you are travelling a road so similar to what my sisters and mom travelled just a few months ago with my dad. Yes, UTI's are a dangerous thing. I'm sorry to hear you are going thru all of this. Please email me if you need to vent to someone who has "been there/done that". But know that I have you in my thoughts and prayers...as well as your honey and your entire family. Healing and loving prayers being sent your way.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry this happened, Deanna. Hope that now your sweet hubby has improved and will be more stable. You both will be in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers from California!
ReplyDeleteDeanna, I am sending love to you from Minnesota. I know that that maybe sounds strange since we have never met, and only recently met on the blogosphere, but I know that if/when we do meet, we will feel like we have known each other forever. Having lived with a dad who died way too young (65) from complications of his type 1 diabetes, I had such mixed feelings reading this post. There is never a good time to say goodbye forever to anyone that we love. But with that said, after watching my dad's health decline, I often prayed that if he had to die too young, that he could go quickly and without too much pain. He and I talked a little about it, mostly because I understood, and no one else would listen to him when he said that he had lived a full, happy life and was ready to go when the time came. Obviously, when it happened it was awful and sad and painful, but I knew that he was no longer living a life that he would never have wished on anyone. He had eaten his ice cream, drank his Mountain Dew and eaten his beloved jelly beans, to death. I have to add that he had been in a terrible car accident and broken ribs and damaged his kidneys, and that was the beginning of the end. He knew he was dying, and ice cream was no longer a worry for him. What is it with ice cream and men! Frankly, he needed the calories. Also, what is it with men!
ReplyDeleteI guess my point is, we never know when our time is, but dignity is a gift and a blessing. I know that when your Sweet Gary's time to go home comes, you will be devastated, but also find peace in knowing that you had a love that was only yours, and you have wonderful children and grandchildren to show for it. As one of my favorite signs says "All of this because two people fell in love".
I hope that Gary is watched a little more closely in his new home now so they know he is drinking his water. That had to scare the bejeezus out of you! I will be thinking about you, and sending positive thoughts your way (and Gary's). Hang in there Beautiful Lady.
So much uncertainty for you Deanna. I'll be thinking of you here in CO. I hope your home and gardens offer you solace to help with the strain of this emergency. Be kind to yourself.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and the family Deanna you have a strong loving family and bloggers around you. Take time for yourself as well. Wish I could give you a hug..
ReplyDeleteWhat a week you had! I am glad to hear that things are looking up...at least for now. That morning glory is just beautiful. It shines from the inside out. Please take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI just got home to read this and I am so sad and sorry that you and your family are having to go through this. I can't image how hard these days are but I know your faith will be of great support during the days to come. Please know I will be praying for you, Gary and the rest of your family as you travel through the coming days. As Barbara said, please take care of yourself and know all of us are here for you in anyway that is helpful....
ReplyDeleteBig hugs to you my friend,
Nancy
Deanna, Your inner light and spirit shines through these posts as you deal with everything that faces you with such grace and dignity and love...I wish all of us could be spared the pain of watching loved ones suffer. I've sure gone through it and come out the other side, mainly because love prevails. I know it does and will for you too.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers go out to you and your dear sweetie as you both journey this tough road. Sending much love. And a hug. xo
ReplyDeleteSending you hugs and prayers my friend...
ReplyDeleteOh my I cannot even fathom what you must be going through with this happening. It is just so hard to understand the "whys" of aging and human suffering but I do know that God has His reasons and that He will see you through this time. Sending you hugs and prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you had this scare, Deanna. It looks like like things are improving. Hope so.
ReplyDeleteI sure admire you for being so strong. *hug*
Praying for Gary and your family, Deanna. It must be hard to imagine any sort of light at the end of this tunnel. May you find peace that you never imagined along this stretch of the road. Love to you.
ReplyDeletePrayers for you, your family, and your sweetie, Deanna.
ReplyDeleteHope you know you are in my prayers...what a journey you are on♥
ReplyDeleteOh, Deanna. I'm so sorry. I suddenly realized that I hadn't heard from "Snippets from Springdale" for a while... only to find out you are going through such trials. I'm sending my prayers to you, and your sweetie.
ReplyDeleteLifting up a little prayer for you today!
ReplyDelete