Where Did I Go?
The short answer, life… and… death.
The Longer Answer
This is a very long overdue explanation on why I have not posted in a long period of time, especially with COVID hanging around. COVID should have meant more posts instead of less but life sometimes has other plans for us. In this particular case, Mom’s care needed more of my time and attention until her passing at the end of 2020.
She needed even more assistance in 2020, with me reaching out to Social Services for assistance in the early beginnings of COVID, after dropping Mom off at the entrance of the Emergency Room so that she could be evaluated per her physician’s instructions. (You know the – please take her directly to the ER do not pass go along the way).
It was becoming evident that Mom needed more than what I could provide her so time for help. ER drop-off day, upon calling Social Services for help, I reached, (who I later learned was a supervisor), someone who was able to ask me pointed questions, accessed the situation, and seemed stunned we had made it this far on our own. Paperwork was quickly filled out, appointments set up via Zoom and after some technical delays, I interviewed companion/ aide companies, via phone. I was able to get Mom set up to meet an aide so that we could get her the extra assistance she needed and brief respites for us. She was not able to enjoy her aide for more than a few months before returning to the hospital for a lengthy stay that resulted in her passing.
Life certainly has a way of surprising us with the twists and turns it offers. I know like many I never expected to be the caregiver for both my parents. It started simple, helping them with minor decisions until it became a “big one”. In my case, it was helping them move from a larger location to a more manageable situation all the way through to Dad’s passing and years later Mom’s passing.
Most of us don’t plan on THAT life twist, do we? We always see our loved ones as vibrant, strong, healthy (well mostly in some cases), never expecting them to have any weaknesses or shortcomings.
For me, it was something that happened as my siblings ‘had lives’ and were treating parental care a bit like a hot potato. As a frequent visitor to my “life” you’ll see I am responsible, loyal to a fault (both a good and bad character trait), honest, and family is the most important (though my family is not always blood).
My journey or crooked path started about 25 years ago with the simple can you help, interpreting medical jargon, electronics, moving, helping Mom cope with Dad’s passing, and subsequently Mom moving to live near me. It has been a long journey, filled with trials and tribulations but at the same time a short journey filled with laughter and quality family time.
How did your unexpected twist place you in the parental care lane?
