It’s sometimes referred to as LBD, sometimes DLB, depending on the genesis of the disease. It can progress in differing ways. It can begin as Parkinson’s. It may not and some patients only show the symptoms of tremors and shuffling later. Burt had very little of this. He had hallucinations, severe but not scary, inContinue reading “Symptoms?”
Category Archives: Each day, a new day
Photo album
I look at these pictures as I scroll through the albums on my phone, and I say, that was a good day.
At home on a rainy day
As I sit here writing, and reading, I have a strong feeling that Burt is present with me. It’s the first time, since the time I thought I needed to go check on him. That had happened just a few days after he passed. It’s been months now, nearly eight, and this is different. Today,Continue reading “At home on a rainy day”
It will be different
Everyone’s journey is their own Your experience with your pwd will likely differ from mine. It’s never the same, yet there are the broad strokes. Different and the same, there are symptoms that may be familiar or that you and your loved one may never encounter. The saying among LBD carers is “if you’ve metContinue reading “It will be different”
Reminders
When I open the cabinet, there’s the espresso cups we got from drinking, sadly, bad coffee at Matto. Burt pleased me by going with me and suffering through a cup, then escorting me to the subway. I don’t remember where I was heading, but it was a lovely morning. This is pretty much the trainContinue reading “Reminders”
From some writing session prompts
Resilient: hey, tough guy Burt in dementia was clearly and increasingly vulnerable. His losses were evident, yet, through it all, he maintained a resilience that served him well. I thought I was steering the ship but my captain somehow kept his hand on the rudder. We bobbed through troubled waters with Burt somehow maintaining anContinue reading “From some writing session prompts”
Once upon a time
Recollecting Burt’s time in the rehab center today gave me a little relief although the memory was hard. The fact that I could affirm that I stood for him when he needed my protection felt good. The nursing home-rehab was not a good place. I would not have placed Burt there over the long haul.Continue reading “Once upon a time”
Routines
It occurs to me that in the five long five short years during which Burt suffered at the hands of Lewy, we lived a lifetime of routines. We watched Lawrence Welk every week. We had television dates. For a while we went to the park all the time. We had a weekend outing every SaturdayContinue reading “Routines”
Burt, or, Burt and I
Burt and I was a radio program with a heavily-inflected Maine accent. It was homey. It was smart.
The practice of care
Best practices include the care of our darlings but as caregivers we need to look out for ourselves. Care for the caregiver includes respite, a topic dear to me and upon which I have expostulated at length. Self-care can and should be done in the company of others. Spend time with friends. I have lunchContinue reading “The practice of care”
this is our life 