Sorry to report that Mrs. T (Barb) was transported from St. Mary's Hospital campus in Rochester MN. to Cottage Wood memory care unit this week. This has been five years coming but the wandering, memory loss and agitation had increased considerably this summer and fall with numerous 911 calls and stays in the secure unit or “prison" as she has called it. Barb volunteered at Mayos Abigail Van Bureans Alzheimer and Memory Loss Research Center . Perhaps the last great frontier isn’t outer space but the human brain and it’s role in mental illness. Your thoughts and prayers now and in the future will be much appreciated. I intend to return to my blogging hobby and soon as I can get my act together here on the home front.
Ray and Barb
I knew what was going on in your world. It's a very very difficult road. You know that the patient will not get better. All the best to you as you take this next journey.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to read this. I understand how difficult the road from my dad's route years ago. Prayers for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteWords cannot convey my feelings but my thoughts are with you and your dear wife. God bless you both. I hope you will feel able to keep us informed of developments but in the meantime perhaps prayers will bring you some comfort. Take care.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to the both of you. She cannot know what is really happening, but you do, and that's so very hard. I wish you all the best and hope you keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you and Mrs. T. Such a horrid thing to deal with, the shell of the person you love. Don't forget to take care of yourself during this trying time.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry. I know what it means to be the one left to do this. It is what it is and your normal will develop day by day. Keeping her safe and well cared for is a relief but I know that you sure didn’t want to go the direction you have gone. I have probably said too much but I am hoping that you can get some support too.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear friend, I am very sorry to read this. I am happy that Barb will have good care, but sad that this has happened to you and your family. I pray that you have good support for yourself during these trying days, and the ones ahead. Please, please...continue to blog. We are here to support you, laugh with you, cry with you....talk about it...or not. There is a great community with bloggers and we are here for you and Barb.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that the Mrs has reached this stage. This has to be the toughest disease a caregiver has to endure. The goodbye is long but never long enough. Prayers and hugs for you both from Arkansas. We will be here for you.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this unfortunate situation in so many, my husband has seen it even more, as he is a nursing home medical director (who is now 70.). Praying you will experience some relief along with your more difficult emotions. May your enjoyment of your environment still lift you when you need that. I think of you as the blogger who lives somewhere near where my husband grew up, tho not close, I've figured out. Anyway I felt like I could picture and appreciate your reports. Many thanks for that.
ReplyDeletei am so sorry to hear this. What a difficult decision and life-change for you both. I hope and pray that once you both settle in the ‘new normal’ will feel better. Thinking of you and wishing you peace and love in the new year.
ReplyDeleteDear Ray ... my thoughts - your love for Barb has shone through. It is such a difficult disease and so challenging to be a part of ... I hope that some positivity will come through - it seems to ... in unexpected ways - albeit you are losing Barb as the days passes. All the very best to you and the family and I do hope Barb can settle to her new environment ...
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing you back when you feel like it ... I found my blog helped me hugely albeit my mother did not have dementia, she was bedridden for her last years.
Take care and look after yourself ... thank you for letting us know - all the best - Hilary
Thank you for sharing your pain. It breaks my heart but I thought that was what was happening when we (your Blogger friends) heard so little from you. I find blogging to be very comforting and I hope it will be the same for you. You have so many followers that love you, including me, and I hope we can help to ease your pain. Sending a HUGE hug dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry to hear this.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy to make that decision, but it must be made. Sorry that Barb has fallen deep into the grips of dementia. My father made that journey and it was a difficult decision to have him go to a nursing home but my mother could no longer deal with the falls and other difficulties of caring for her husband. I wish you well in 2019.
ReplyDeleteSuch a difficult journey for you both. Thinking of you as you adjust and looking forward to finding you back here.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray, my best to you and mrs t. I hope lily can visit. Such a hard road to travel for you. I will say prayers for you both. I am seeing dementia with my dad so I understand, each day is different, some days he knows me and some days I am his sister....but at least he still sees me as someone who loves him. Take good care of you.
ReplyDeleteI'm behind in my blog reading, Ray, and just now seeing this post. What a long, difficult journey this is for both of you. I'm so sorry. Someone close to me is going through the same thing, and I know what emotional turmoil it brings. I am sending you good wishes are you continue in the next phase of this devastating disease with your wife. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray...I largely stepped away from blogging once other social media sites started accommodating longer posts, pictures, etc, etc. Plus, perpetual writing block and all that. Anyway, I came looking for your blog because I recall a discussion about you thinking of trying to see all of the MN state parks, and wondered how it went or was going. But, I am so sorry to see the battle Mrs T is enduring, and wishing you both the very best.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray, so sorry I am just catching up. This is a heartbreaking journey, especially since you and mrs T. had a good close marriage. Wishing you strength.
ReplyDeleteRay....We have walked that path. It is one that is difficult. I pray for the Lord's love and peace as you go through this stage in Barb's life.
ReplyDeleteSending you both gentle hugs.
Love,
Jackie