Posts Tagged ‘ health ’

1991, 1997, and then again in 2011, I’ve experienced a sudden rush of overwhelming grief. This year, though, it’s been followed by the realization that death can come unannounced to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
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I embark on a new journey — a journey of gratification through giving.
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Should a person be subject to society’s rules and regulations when it comes to ending his completely dependent, excruciating life that has no hope of getting better?
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Now that you’ve read Part1 — my difficulty dealing with the idea of having a disabled child (which really was about my issues with disabilities); Part 2 — Nancy’s journey of adapting to a life on a wheelchair; and Part 3 — Bette’s constant struggle with diabetes, here is a look at some other…
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Read Part 1 and Part 2 before continuing this non-fiction account of these two women who showed me what it’s like to live a disabled life surrounded by “normal” people. —————— The “milder” disability Bette is a singer and songwriter, a registered nurse, a mother of three, and a music therapy student. She is…
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Read part 1 of this non-fiction account here, then get a cup of tea or coffee and cozy up with your preferred mobile or desktop device. This isn’t going to be one of those fast reads. ———- First Encounters The first time I saw Nancy standing was when I attended her physical therapy class….
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Today, I share with you the introduction to a story I wrote in 2004 about two women disabled in very different ways … one a diabetic and the other a paralyzed stroke victim. Part 1 is not so much their story as mine…in the next three days, I will take you on their journeys…
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Fuzzy mind Wobbly legs A state of delirium Headache Bodyache But free of Heartache The mind sees The eyes sleep The body breathes Pain Comes and goes Reality intermingling With dreams Voices Visions Vitamins Hot and cold Bursts of energy Languid days Restless nights Doctor Medicine Advice Smiling faces Snappy deadlines Work stress Life…
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Before I met Patt, I had no idea what it was like for someone relatively young to be “ready” for death. Her indomitable spirit and joyful nature helped ease the suffering for her and her family, but a lot of credit goes to the nurses and the hospice care team who ensured her every…
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Patt’s favorite word was “Cool.” When I met her the first — and last — time she was in bed, attached to countless tubes. She could barely talk – her limited slurred speech was difficult to understand. She couldn’t get up, couldn’t swallow, and couldn’t breathe on her own. She couldn’t feed herself other…
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