Joined
·
3,920 Posts
The Witchita Lineman
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Joined
·
1,727 Posts
My Mom has late-stage Alzheimers, and is about to enter hospice care. This disease is heartbreaking and ruthless, and has taken some of our greatest heroes; Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan come to mind, and now Glen Campbell.
My poor Dad used to ask me if I saw any signs in him...never did. Ironically, what ultimately killed him was taking care of my Mom.
If I ever get diagnosed with it, I hope I have the guts to walk out into the woods and eat a bullet. Of course, I'll have to write myself a reminder to do it.
My poor Dad used to ask me if I saw any signs in him...never did. Ironically, what ultimately killed him was taking care of my Mom.
If I ever get diagnosed with it, I hope I have the guts to walk out into the woods and eat a bullet. Of course, I'll have to write myself a reminder to do it.
Joined
·
7,059 Posts
Amen....
Walt in another life I worked a bunch of concerts: met a bunch of musical heroes: Denver, Campbell, Simon& Garfunkel, Brubeck and a few more but the highlight of all was being a roadie for "The Free Agents" who were a group of four retired FBI agents and a fantastic guitarist Doyle *****
Walt in another life I worked a bunch of concerts: met a bunch of musical heroes: Denver, Campbell, Simon& Garfunkel, Brubeck and a few more but the highlight of all was being a roadie for "The Free Agents" who were a group of four retired FBI agents and a fantastic guitarist Doyle *****
Joined
·
13,181 Posts
My Mom doesn't have Alzheimer's, but her mind is slowly going. She used to blame it on all the meds she has to take but I think a doctor mentioned something about "senior dementia" or "senile dementia" or something. Her mind's still working, but she can take forever to get out the word she has in mind. And she can remember things from 40 or 50 or 60 years ago perfectly but forgets the answer to the question she asked you two minutes ago. She still remembers me and my wife but sometimes doesn't recognize one of our kids, and sometimes asks my wife how many kids we have. Very sad to see her this way, she used to be one of the sharpest women around.
Joined
·
37 Posts
Captain,
I'm very sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It is a very ruthless disease, and I don't wish it on any one.
So sorry hun.
Joined
·
2,134 Posts
Condolences, amigo. We just went through something similar with my grandmother over the past few years, though it wasn't quite Alzheimer's but an unidentified similar dementia disorder.
Joined
·
2,627 Posts
Glen was a helluva sessions guitarist before he got his break. A musician that is capable of walking in cold and playing anything asked of him is in great demand in the music industry. That kind of talent is rare.
Both my maternal grandmother and mother had Alzheimer's, or senile dementia, not sure of the exact diagnoses. My father and his parents were all sharp as tacks until they passed.
Guess I am just waiting to see whether the genetic coin lands on heads or tails.
Cap'n, I do understand. My Dad was my mother's primary caretaker. He refused to "put her in a home." He found out he had pancreatic cancer shortly after his brother died from it. He had a very invasive surgical treatment called the Whipple procedure, mainly to give him a chance to live long enough to take care of my Mom. He spent two moths in the hospital and almost died from it. He came home and Mom died about a month later. When his cancer returned, he refused treatment except for pain management and died at home.
Both my maternal grandmother and mother had Alzheimer's, or senile dementia, not sure of the exact diagnoses. My father and his parents were all sharp as tacks until they passed.
Guess I am just waiting to see whether the genetic coin lands on heads or tails.
Cap'n, I do understand. My Dad was my mother's primary caretaker. He refused to "put her in a home." He found out he had pancreatic cancer shortly after his brother died from it. He had a very invasive surgical treatment called the Whipple procedure, mainly to give him a chance to live long enough to take care of my Mom. He spent two moths in the hospital and almost died from it. He came home and Mom died about a month later. When his cancer returned, he refused treatment except for pain management and died at home.
Joined
·
3,920 Posts
My wife is DON at one of the better assisted living facilities hereabouts. She brought her father here toward the end of his life to take care of him. He had run an infantry company for Patton and built a pretty successful business afterwards, so he wasn't exactly a shrinking violet. After we moved him here, he seemed to enjoy getting to spend more time with his grandchildren but had stopped communicating very much verbally. Kathy thought he might be experiencing some dementia but that wasn't exactly a shocker considering he was 91.
He was only eating sparsely, but he would drink OJ if you'd hold the cup and straw up for him. I'd go over after work and we'd mostly just sit in the common area around the nurse's station and he'd drink and we'd listen to the rest of the residents chat. A couple of the ladies there were complimenting each other on their lovely dresses. Both were blind. I looked at Jim and remarked that: "Something's not quite right here." He stopped drinking, looked me dead in the eye and said: "And I'm not so sure about you" showing just a ghost of a smile.
First thing he'd said to me in a couple of months and the last thing he said to me ever.
He was only eating sparsely, but he would drink OJ if you'd hold the cup and straw up for him. I'd go over after work and we'd mostly just sit in the common area around the nurse's station and he'd drink and we'd listen to the rest of the residents chat. A couple of the ladies there were complimenting each other on their lovely dresses. Both were blind. I looked at Jim and remarked that: "Something's not quite right here." He stopped drinking, looked me dead in the eye and said: "And I'm not so sure about you" showing just a ghost of a smile.
First thing he'd said to me in a couple of months and the last thing he said to me ever.
Joined
·
1,727 Posts
It's inspiring to hear stories like this of total commitment, where spouses really do believe in "for better or for worse, 'til death do us part".
Semi-amusing anecdote: My Dad was an attorney, and tended to be very eloquent, if somewhat verbose, when he spoke. He happened to have the stroke that ultimately killed him at my house, which meant that we had my Mom with us until he died. The amount of care she required was a huge surprise for us, as he'd managed to conceal how advanced her dementia had become.
A few days after his stroke, my Dad regained a very limited ability to speak. I told him, "Dad, we didn't realize how much of a burden Mom had become. You really had your hands full taking care of her".
Now you or I would probably respond to that by saying, "You're right", or "Roger that", or "Effin' A, Bubba", but not Dad.
He looked at me, and with great difficulty said, "It may have led to my demise".
And it did...that was the last full sentence I heard him utter.
It sounds like Glen Campbell's family has the resources to provide for his care without having their lives destroyed. That is a huge silver lining in an otherwise very dark cloud.
Semi-amusing anecdote: My Dad was an attorney, and tended to be very eloquent, if somewhat verbose, when he spoke. He happened to have the stroke that ultimately killed him at my house, which meant that we had my Mom with us until he died. The amount of care she required was a huge surprise for us, as he'd managed to conceal how advanced her dementia had become.
A few days after his stroke, my Dad regained a very limited ability to speak. I told him, "Dad, we didn't realize how much of a burden Mom had become. You really had your hands full taking care of her".
Now you or I would probably respond to that by saying, "You're right", or "Roger that", or "Effin' A, Bubba", but not Dad.
He looked at me, and with great difficulty said, "It may have led to my demise".
And it did...that was the last full sentence I heard him utter.
It sounds like Glen Campbell's family has the resources to provide for his care without having their lives destroyed. That is a huge silver lining in an otherwise very dark cloud.
Joined
·
1,727 Posts
Walt, I was typing while you were posting. That is an absolutely great story.
Joined
·
7,059 Posts
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
one for each of you...
one for each of you...
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
