When Blood Collides
Viewing comments for Chapter 93 "Dementia, Diabetes and a Fall "A family's love is tested.
19 total reviews
Comment from judiverse
Glad I'm reading this while a have a fresh supply of stars. You're are able to write this so clearly despite your emotional involvement. You show how Frank's disease progressed. It would be terrible for the time to come when an Alzheimer's patient is no longer able to remember relatives. Interesting comments about Bobby and the fact that you never told him about Frank's diagnosis. A very telling remark from Bobby that he even gets along with his stepmother even tolerates him now that his mother is no longer around. I can understand why you didn't tell him. Hope Nicole heeds and comes for a visit. judi
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Glad I'm reading this while a have a fresh supply of stars. You're are able to write this so clearly despite your emotional involvement. You show how Frank's disease progressed. It would be terrible for the time to come when an Alzheimer's patient is no longer able to remember relatives. Interesting comments about Bobby and the fact that you never told him about Frank's diagnosis. A very telling remark from Bobby that he even gets along with his stepmother even tolerates him now that his mother is no longer around. I can understand why you didn't tell him. Hope Nicole heeds and comes for a visit. judi
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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A six from you is such a gift, judi. Thanks for mentioning the important points on this. It would seem cruel to complain of a health problem when Bobby couldn't even walk.
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You're very welcome. It's always possible to find someone who's worse off than you are. judi
Comment from Mary Wakeford
Shari, you describe what must be at times an overwhelming diagnosis in such a way, that every reader becomes a part of the story. We are compelled to understand the plight of the affected, through the heart of a once lover, turned caregiver.
Very insightful, and real. The oatmeal, the nephew, all very jarring in its honesty.
A spacing error needs tuning:
hisright side, agitating the infamous -> his right
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Shari, you describe what must be at times an overwhelming diagnosis in such a way, that every reader becomes a part of the story. We are compelled to understand the plight of the affected, through the heart of a once lover, turned caregiver.
Very insightful, and real. The oatmeal, the nephew, all very jarring in its honesty.
A spacing error needs tuning:
hisright side, agitating the infamous -> his right
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Thanks, Mary, for your heartfelt review. I never expected this would happen. Heath wise, my family and relatives have been blessed for the most part. I fixed the spacing error. Thanks for pointing it out.
Comment from Dean Kuch
Good mornin', Shari.
"My sister had passed away three years ago following an unexpected discovery of stage four cancer. She said goodbye to Frank after her death. He saw her ghost or spirit in our kitchen five days after her memorial service. She had already sent a message to me while in a coma, but that's a story I've told in a prior chapter." .. I remember that chapter, Spit. Eerie telling of it too, as I recall ...
"From that incident on, he forgot about the botched surgery. Every physical ailment in his legs and feet were now the result of "The Fall." See? Everything happens for a reason. Now I could refer to events as B.F. (before fall) and A.F. (after fall)." ... How soon we forget, 'ey?
I smashed my right thumb once while working on my Grandpa Cook's hog farm. I believe I was fourteen or fifteen, thereabouts. I was crying (but trying desperately not to), and my Uncle Kendall, the third oldest of 13 brothers and sisters on Dad's side of the fence, rapped me on top of my head with his knuckles. I told him it hurt---a LOT! He smiled, then said, "Yeah, but it made you forget all about your thumb, didn't it?"
"The remote and I are on intimate terms these days. If I fondled him as much as I do this gadget, he'd be using Viagra." ... Or he'd have a heart attack tryin' to keep up. 'Nuff said, heh-heh ... Great line, Shari. LMAO! ;)
He's losing it, I thought. How much longer before he forgets the names of our children? I called Nichole. "You need to fly out here for a visit. Two years have gone by. It's important to see Dad while he still remembers who you are." ... I'm writing my dad's memoirs in a journal as he conveys them to me. Sometimes it's in person (we live over two hours apart, in Ohio), but most of the time it is over the phone. The idea is that when Dad starts getting bad enough in his Alzheimer's, I'll read them back to him to possibly spark some old memories and keep 'em burning.
I hope it works...
Yet another grrrrreat chapter, Shari. Error free, flawless writing.
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Good mornin', Shari.
"My sister had passed away three years ago following an unexpected discovery of stage four cancer. She said goodbye to Frank after her death. He saw her ghost or spirit in our kitchen five days after her memorial service. She had already sent a message to me while in a coma, but that's a story I've told in a prior chapter." .. I remember that chapter, Spit. Eerie telling of it too, as I recall ...
"From that incident on, he forgot about the botched surgery. Every physical ailment in his legs and feet were now the result of "The Fall." See? Everything happens for a reason. Now I could refer to events as B.F. (before fall) and A.F. (after fall)." ... How soon we forget, 'ey?
I smashed my right thumb once while working on my Grandpa Cook's hog farm. I believe I was fourteen or fifteen, thereabouts. I was crying (but trying desperately not to), and my Uncle Kendall, the third oldest of 13 brothers and sisters on Dad's side of the fence, rapped me on top of my head with his knuckles. I told him it hurt---a LOT! He smiled, then said, "Yeah, but it made you forget all about your thumb, didn't it?"
"The remote and I are on intimate terms these days. If I fondled him as much as I do this gadget, he'd be using Viagra." ... Or he'd have a heart attack tryin' to keep up. 'Nuff said, heh-heh ... Great line, Shari. LMAO! ;)
He's losing it, I thought. How much longer before he forgets the names of our children? I called Nichole. "You need to fly out here for a visit. Two years have gone by. It's important to see Dad while he still remembers who you are." ... I'm writing my dad's memoirs in a journal as he conveys them to me. Sometimes it's in person (we live over two hours apart, in Ohio), but most of the time it is over the phone. The idea is that when Dad starts getting bad enough in his Alzheimer's, I'll read them back to him to possibly spark some old memories and keep 'em burning.
I hope it works...
Yet another grrrrreat chapter, Shari. Error free, flawless writing.
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Ha,ha. Regarding the thumb, I have a cure for depression. I eat a lot of sweets, enough to get a belly ache. Voila. I'm too sick to be depressed. :-)
Long term memory is the last to go. I wrote Frank's bio with your idea in mind. Photograpsh might help too as well as a CD with his favorite tunes.
Thanks oodles for the six. BTW, you're on fire!
Comment from Realist101
Hello Shari...I can't tell you how heart wrenching this is to read. I wasn't around my mom and dad in their later years. They both had this horrible disease but didn't take meds. I wish so badly they'd find a cure. Just think how far all the MILLIONS or BILLIONS of dollars WASTED on this farce called a presidential campaign would have gone!!! ERRRRRR....
I have one suggestion/technical? As I read, it seemed 'still was' (a good driver), should be 'was still'? I read it aloud both ways. I'm awful at the tech stuff as you know, but just go by how it sounds. Anyway, a touching and sad post...x
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Hello Shari...I can't tell you how heart wrenching this is to read. I wasn't around my mom and dad in their later years. They both had this horrible disease but didn't take meds. I wish so badly they'd find a cure. Just think how far all the MILLIONS or BILLIONS of dollars WASTED on this farce called a presidential campaign would have gone!!! ERRRRRR....
I have one suggestion/technical? As I read, it seemed 'still was' (a good driver), should be 'was still'? I read it aloud both ways. I'm awful at the tech stuff as you know, but just go by how it sounds. Anyway, a touching and sad post...x
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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The meds don't help, Sue. Glad they save their money. It angers me too the amount spent on a popularity contest for control of our country. You're right about the word placement. I'll go back in and fix it. Thanks so much for the exceptional rating.
Hugs,
Shari
Comment from Walu Feral
G'day Shari. Very well done on this rather challenging time and happenings in your life. I have to admit that I chuckled several times through this one. The viagra line was a crack up. I guess it certainly helps to have a sense of humor huh?
A couple of observations...
"He would said,(say) "Thank you. That means a lot."
"One morning, hubby went out to get the paper, lost his balance and fell on (-the +his)the right side,"
"See? Everything happens for a reason. Now I could refer to events as B.F. (before fall) and A.F. (after fall)." (Hahahaha! Love it!)
Very well done mate.
Cheers Fez
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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G'day Shari. Very well done on this rather challenging time and happenings in your life. I have to admit that I chuckled several times through this one. The viagra line was a crack up. I guess it certainly helps to have a sense of humor huh?
A couple of observations...
"He would said,(say) "Thank you. That means a lot."
"One morning, hubby went out to get the paper, lost his balance and fell on (-the +his)the right side,"
"See? Everything happens for a reason. Now I could refer to events as B.F. (before fall) and A.F. (after fall)." (Hahahaha! Love it!)
Very well done mate.
Cheers Fez
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Fixed the errors you cited. I thank you for that and am pleased that you mentioned the humor.
Hugs,
Shari
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi, Shari
= Oh, that must have been difficult to tell your daughter she better come home while her dad remembered her.
= It must be very hard for you as well. Do they have therapy groups for family of the patients?
= Back when my paternal grandma had Dementia, they still called in "hardening of the arteries" when she didn't know my dad and his brothers/sisters.
(*<*) A Smile Is A Frown Turned Upside-Down (*>*)
Cheers & Blessings ... Jacqueline ~ Jackie ~ Jax
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Hi, Shari
= Oh, that must have been difficult to tell your daughter she better come home while her dad remembered her.
= It must be very hard for you as well. Do they have therapy groups for family of the patients?
= Back when my paternal grandma had Dementia, they still called in "hardening of the arteries" when she didn't know my dad and his brothers/sisters.
(*<*) A Smile Is A Frown Turned Upside-Down (*>*)
Cheers & Blessings ... Jacqueline ~ Jackie ~ Jax
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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My support group is neighbors who have faced this problems with parents. At least five have told me they would help out when necessary. I love my 50+ community. :-)
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Harsh reality here. No way around it. He's losing himself to a horrific brain disease. Such a tragic affliction. My uncle's wife had it and kept asking who we were when we visited one day. She died in rest home, like most. How hard it must have been for you.
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Harsh reality here. No way around it. He's losing himself to a horrific brain disease. Such a tragic affliction. My uncle's wife had it and kept asking who we were when we visited one day. She died in rest home, like most. How hard it must have been for you.
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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The difficult part is still to come. At least he can still dress himself and he's not into Depends yet. He has mornings as in today when his legs are in such pain he says that he feels as if he's dying. (Probably a diabetic symptom). To be honest, I hope he goes before I have to put him in a nursing home. It would break both our hearts to be apart like that.
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It's hard on both of you. Life can be so cruel, so unfair. Sigh...
Comment from Jay Squires
Oh, this is tense stuff, Shari. I feel such sympathy for what you have to contend with. Yet, knowing it's what you signed on for, as he did you, it has to be personally conflicting. I don't know that I could be as even tempered as you.
His support group of friends. a caretaker at night, a cleaning lady one day a week and a big supply of pain pills kept him comfortable. [I'm sure you fixed this by now, but you needed a comma, not a period, after "friends".]
"How does the thermostat work again?", [No comma needed.]
Somedays he couldn't remember how to take his sugar count. [SOME DAYS he couldn't ...]
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reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Oh, this is tense stuff, Shari. I feel such sympathy for what you have to contend with. Yet, knowing it's what you signed on for, as he did you, it has to be personally conflicting. I don't know that I could be as even tempered as you.
His support group of friends. a caretaker at night, a cleaning lady one day a week and a big supply of pain pills kept him comfortable. [I'm sure you fixed this by now, but you needed a comma, not a period, after "friends".]
"How does the thermostat work again?", [No comma needed.]
Somedays he couldn't remember how to take his sugar count. [SOME DAYS he couldn't ...]
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Always happy to get an early review from you because I know you'll catch the typos. As for even tempered, I do have the help of little white pills aka anti-depressants. My serotonin levels are low. When I gorge on sweets, that helps too. :-)
Comment from Carolyn 'Deaton' Stephens
Dear Shari,
Your story is painful to read and yet you, only you, still keep
humorous points in it as well.
Frank on the throne... reading your book... wondering who wrote it..
previously thinking you were his mother only to retract and say... "i didn't get along with her."
And yes, I agree, Nicole should come as often as possible.
Well done, the best to you two...
:-) Carolyn
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Dear Shari,
Your story is painful to read and yet you, only you, still keep
humorous points in it as well.
Frank on the throne... reading your book... wondering who wrote it..
previously thinking you were his mother only to retract and say... "i didn't get along with her."
And yes, I agree, Nicole should come as often as possible.
Well done, the best to you two...
:-) Carolyn
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 12-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 12-Jun-2016
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Thanks, Carolyn, for being moved to pain and laughter too. Appreciate your choosing that remark. It is so true.