Debbie's Move to Edgewater

I want to let you know that Debbie is entering the later stages of her illness as those around her can notice daily declines. Debbie’s needs have progressed to the point where she was moved into long-term memory at Wesley Life Edgewater in West Des Moines last week.

This has been a tough decision, and I am a mix of sadness because I miss her being at our home but relieved knowing that she’ll be getting the care she needs. Edgewater is well-equipped to manage her symptoms and provide her with the best possible quality of life. She is already responding favorably to her new surroundings.

Soon I will post how to visit or where to send her cards and photos.

Onward and Upward! Bob

Quality Time

 It's not the size of the fish that matters but rather the quality of the time.

Debbie’s Last Christmas

 
This was likely Debbie’s last Christmas where she will know it was Christmas, so we maintained our traditions. She had some good moments but was stressful for her, nonetheless.

She would see the Christmas tree and the packages under the tree and then get anxious about the need to buy presents. I would reassure her that it was done, and she would relax. But the information would not make it into her long-term memory.

A few minutes later she would panic and ask again. This is pretty much how every day is for her now, a lot of anxiety and a little slippage every day.

Our goal is to maintain a daily routine as that is calming for her. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we continue the long goodbye.

Onward and Upward! Bob

The Unicorn Cart

I had an amazing day at Walmart today! The first was finding a parking space up front on a weekend. Next, I grabbed a cart and was shocked. It was the Unicorn Cart, that mythical cart that tracks straight without a wheel that wobbles like it is on a bender or with a wheel pulling the cart back to China.

I only needed to buy eggs, bananas, and milk, but since the cart was so perfect, I continued to shop until it was full. Heading to the register for self-checkout, an employee caught my attention and said,” Register five is open, no waiting.” So, an employee rang up my groceries, and they were fast. It was just a wonderful experience.

Debbie and I get our prescriptions filled at Walmart and I'm thinking of changing to a new store so I never have to go back. Then I can always cherish the memory of a wonderful day at Walmart.

Debbie’s Heath Status

I have had many inquiries about Debbie’s health status, so this is to bring everyone up to date. Two years ago, Debbie was diagnosed with logopenic primary progressive aphasia, an atypical form of Alzheimer's disease. We suspected for several years prior that something was wrong. So, while the diagnosis was not a surprise it was devastating news.

Debbie and I had many talks about her medical condition as there are limited treatments and no cures. We agreed that it was an opportunity to demonstrate to our children and grandchildren how to face a difficult situation with courage, compassion, and commitment. It has been our experience that children pay less attention to what we say and more attention to what we do.

Last year she lost the ability to use email and social media apps, but she can still use a phone with assistance. Her short-term memory is virtually non-existent and that causes problems with understanding complex verbal information or communicating her thoughts to others. Most recently she has developed some difficulty in recognizing friends and family.

Debbie’s cognitive decline is accelerating. The last few months have been hard on her and those around her. She is aware of the changes in her cognition and is fearful. Yesterday, her neurologist changed her medications to help her be calmer.

She is at our home. We have home health care services seven days a week/eight hours a day to help. We are blessed to have supportive friends and family as Debbie goes through the long goodbye.
She has had visitors this year from all over the country wanting to spend time with her. If you want to “bump” into Debbie, we have breakfast at Hy-Vee on Mills Civic and 50th at 8:30 every Sunday morning.

Onward and Upward! Bob