Life as a caregiver

I am trying to decide about writing on the life of a caregiver. My life and the life of my bride Carrie were irreversibly changed when she tumbled literally head over heels down the stairs in September of 2006. This single event led to a cascade of events that have altered our lives more than we ever would have dreamed possible. I somehow think I need to share what has occured and is still going on in our lives as I think it it important for others to know that life can change in an instant and you are suddenly faced with changes you have never even begun to think of.

I suspect this is more true for men than for women/husbands than wives. Most men know full well that they will probably leave this vale of tears long before their wives. And they inately know, but won't admit, that their wives will probablyh be caring for them in their twilight years. But sometimes fate deals us a different hand and our roles are reversed. Oh, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are bound hand and foot, 24 hours a day, but you never let yourself be far away from the person for whom you are the care giver. Why? I am not quite sure, but I think you believe that no one else can do the job as well as you can. At least I feel that way.

As I work on this, I will try to share what goes on in our daily lives, but I will also try to tell you of events of others I know who have suddenly had the tables turned. I am hoping that I can convince Carrie to start a blog in which she will share her feelings about her post-stroke life. She is a very creative woman and I know that she must have many days of frustration that are fueled by her aphasia. She fully recognizes that this is a problem--so much so that she is hesitant about socializing because of her stammering speech. Does she stammer all the time? No. But when she is under pressure or when there is too much going on around her, she has problems finding the right words. I believe she has a great story to tell and that her story can be very inspiring to other stroke victims. So I am going to continue to encourage her to share her story, her feelings, her frustrations in the hopes that other stroke victims will profit from what she is experiencing.

Until then...