Thankful Thursday: Nurses and Techs

 

Photo by PNGTREE

None of my caregivers will probably never see this, but...

Health care has definitely changed over these last few years.

Nursing homes have a very high turnover rate; always have and always will.

Times are tough.  Most places are having to hire agency staff in order to have enough staff to take of us.  Most agency workers do their job; some of them very well, but most of them are missing that personal connection,

But, then you get excellent techs and nurses who do take that extra care to make you feel loved and cared for.  They treat you like a...like a real person.

Thank you for giving us the care we need.

Thankful Thursday: My Sweet Mama

 

I have the BEST Mama.

I know everyone thinks their mother is the greatest, but...

My mom will be 72 on the 8th.

She and Daddy took a chance on a sick baby who may have been profoundly disabled.  One who they may have to take care of for the rest of their life.  

She has 8 kids; 7 biological and one stepdaughter; 5  boys and 3 girls.  You'd never know it though.

She went to nursing school in her 40's to support her family; working 12-hour night shifts, so that the little kids always had someone at home to take care of them.

She took care of Dalton for about 6 weeks before  Bobbye was born.  (He was 3 and she lives an hour and a half away from us - she kept him during the week. Barret would pick him for the weekend .)

She came and helped take care of me after my hip replacement.

She is helping to take care of a family .friend.

I love my mama!!!

Thankful Thursday: Barrett

 

Photo by Poxabay 

Today is Barrett's birthday (Yes, I call my husband by his last name; have since we met).

You know, every once in a while,  you meet someone who changes your life FOREVER!!!

There is a big difference between being friends with someone who is disabled and being married to someone who is disabled; especially when that person has a mental illness., also.

They willing take on a responsibility that abled-bodied couples don't assume.

Barrett took this on whole heartily  He loved me even when I thought   I would never experience a love like that.

While the physical aspect of a disability is taunting in itself, when you add a mental illness to the mix, it's a whole new ball game.

And he has stuck by me through everything; even though I know there are days, hours, even minutes where he wants to walk away, forever.

But, he hasn't.

That's true love.  I am so thankful he loves and stand by me.

Thankful Thursday: Dalton and Megan's 1st Thanksgiving

 

This was my son, Dalton, and his wife, Megan's 1st Thanksgiving as a married couple.  They hosted dinner.  It was just nice getting the 2 families together.  We were only missing Megan's sister, Emily, and her boyfriend.

It's truly amazing to watch young love.

There's a purity about it that can only be recognized by people who have been in themselves.

Thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I pray you have many more!

Thankful Thursday:Mary

 

Photo by PNGITEM

Every now and then, life blesses you with an unexpected gem.

Mary Long is one of my gems.

She is an 84-year-old, uh...character...Yeah, that's it!

She is a patient here at The Waters. 

She's had a very interesting life, to say the least.

She's been married 10 times.

Mary met her first husband when she was a 13-year-old hitchhiker.

He was in his 40s. and they were together for 30+ years.  He was the father of her 3 kids.

He was a bad diabetic and lost both his legs.  She said she was 70 lbs and toted him 'round like a sack of taters.

She says that he is the only one she ever loved and the only one who ever really loved her.

The rest of them, as she says, only wanted someone to keep them up and go to bed with.

As I said, she is a character.

But no matter how many times she tells me her stories, they are always, consistent!!

On Thankful Thursdays, I've been writing about strong women who have influenced my life, and Mary Long has definitely influenced my life.

Last week, I talked about how Mama always prays that GOD will place people in our lives to help us when she can't.

Mary is one of those people.

Mary has taught me many things, and probably many things she probably shouldn't have.

She is one of the happiest people I've ever met.  She's a natural entertainer.  She makes me feel better when I'm upset.

Who is a gem in your life?

Thankful Thursday -Gail's Mom

 

Photo by pngtree

I am continuing to give thanks to some of the women who have made an impression on me.

I have 2 friends here at the Waters who are sisters They both have some type of Apraxia. (I think)

I met Gail when I first came to live in the nursing facility.  She's so sweet.  Her condition is much more advanced than her sister, CJ.  Along with her trouble speaking, she's totally physically disabled.  I thought she had Multiple Sclerosis when I first met her.

I'll talk about these sweet ladies in other posts.

Today I want to talk about their mom, Mrs. Jefferys.  

First, let me say it's been a difficult week for me.

My roommate, Sandra , went to live with a caregiver in her home in Hermitage.  I got upset and Aella Saudade may or may not have, made an appearance.

Anyway, Mrs. Jefferys just called to say hello and see how I was doing.  She said she would check on me next time she comes to visit Gail and CJ.

It meant so much to know that someone, out of the clear blue, just called to say she was thinking about me.

Mama always says that she hopes people step in and take care of us when she can't be there.

I've been blessed by a lot of good "Mamas" over the years.  I'm proud and thankful to count Gail's mom as one of my adopted "Mamas".

Thankful Thursday - Sandra

 Photo by Clipart Library

Some friends are just distant to meet...no matter what.

My friend, Sandra, is one of those friends.  She was here when I came back to the Waters (I went to live at a nursing facility for a while.  When I first got back, she was afraid she'd come between our friend Deborah and me.  Soon we were all thick as thieves.  

In many ways, Sandra and I had more in common than we did with Deborah.  She has CP also.  We just bonded~it's can be very hard to meet other people my age who have CP.

She became the "big sister" I never had.  We took care of each other.  I'm usually the "mother" of friendships I have ~ some of my friends are older than me.

She says I have a low pain reliance because she hit me with the corner of a pizza box and I said it hurt.🤕

She spoils me.  She's my confidant.  She protects me when I get in trouble 👮 (not that I ever get in trouble).

She calms me down when Aella Saudade, comes out in me.

I love her so much!!!

Thankful Thursday ~ Deborah

 

Photo by clipartbeast

On Thankful Thursdays, I'm continuing to talk about the women who have influenced my life and my faith.

Today, I want to tell you about my friend, Deborah.

Deborah was the first friend I made at The Waters.  She sat with me for the first 2 days while I cried.

She introduced me to activities.  She was in there whenever the doors were open; she especially enjoyed the religious programs and BINGO.  Deborah liked to stay busy.

I went to live in another nursing home for about 3 months.  She called me the night her sister (who was her roommate) died,  begging me to come back.  I think it was about a month later when I finally decided to move back.  I ask that Deborah not be told exactly when I was coming so I could surprise her. Her face lit up when she saw me, she was so excited!  We both were!!!

When Deborah and our friend, Sandra became roommates,  I practically lived in their room.  We joked that we got "divorced" at midnight and got "remarried" the next day.

Then...COVID HIT 

We all got COVID, except for 2 residents.  I think about 10 residents died  because of COVID

Deborah got really sick.  The doctors had to put her in an induced coma for a couple of weeks to help her heal.  

She got better and came back to the nursing home, but she was never quite the same.  She would get mad easily and just snap at people. She had been a very easygoing, loving, and forgiving lady and that person was gone.  She was still nice, she was just...different. (I heard that COVID affected many people this way.)

A few months later, her sister took her home to care for her.  3 months later Deborah got pneumonia.  Her lungs were too scarred because of COVID and she ended up passing away.

What I admired most about my friend, Deborah, is she could have fun and enjoy life regardless of what was going on.  She loved GOD and she loved to help people.  She always put others before herself.  She was a genuinely good person and she always made others feel special and loved.  

There is a lady here at The Waters who looks so much like her; they could be identical twins.  When we saw her, another friend and I looked at each other and our jaws dropped, it's uncanny how much she looks like Deborah.

I will always love and miss my friend.

t

Thankful Thursday: Sister Marietta

 

I have been using THANKFUL THURSDAYS to talk about some of the wonderful women who have had an impact on my life and my faith.

Photo by Pixy

When I was 4,  my parents enrolled in St.  Bernards School for Exceptional Children.  This school not only launched my educational journey, but also my spiritual journey.

St. Marietta was the principal of the Exceptional school.   She stood up with Mama when we joined St. Pius church and got baptized.  I can't remember her as my principal, but I use to see her walking around the St. Bernards campus.  I always loved running into her.

In 5th and 6th grade, at Christmas, we got to"adopt" a Sister.  We had a special luncheon with them.  I was so upset because I didn't get to be with St. Marietta. (The 6th graders got to choose the sister they wanted to "adopt" a sister they wanted to escort to the Christmas luncheon.)  I did get to "adopt" her the next Christmas.  (The was also the year I sang "I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Clause-so she was probably regretting  not teaching me how to sing!!!)

There isn't just one thing I loved about St. Marietta.  I just know when I was around her I felt like I was in the presence of GOD

Thankful Thursday ~ Ms. Baltz

 

 

Photo by pngfind

On Thankful Thursday, I'm going to be talking about some of the women who have helped shaped my life and my faith:

Today, I'm going to be telling you about Ms. Elizabeth Baltz.

Ms. Baltz went to St. Pius. Catholic  I had known for as long as I could remember  She taught Sunday School.  Because I went to a Catholic school I didn't "have to" go to Sunday School, but I went whenever Mama and Daddy would let me.

I went to a public high school so I went to Sunday School on a regular basis.

Sunday school was at St.Pius' sister church, the Assumption.  So. after the 8 o'clock mass, I would ride with Ms. Baltz to Sunday School.  We. always stopped at Mrs. Winners for breakfast.

This was one of my favorite times of the week.  We would sit and talk.  She was such a godly woman.  She worked at St. Thomas hospital and was one of the members of the congregation who went to Bordeaux hospital, along with Ms. Sharber. She taught me the importance of acts of service and the love of God.    She, her brother (Uncle Bud), and his twin sister (Ms. Bernardine) never married and live in their childhood home.  

Sadly, I did not keep in touch with her. The last time I saw her may have been when Daddy died.  I know she and Ms. Bernardine lived at Bordeaux hospital during their later years.  Ms. Bernardine died a few years ago.  Ms. Elizabeth passed away in 2019.

Oh yeah, they had an entire half-level of their house that looked like Christmas all year long.

How could I not love this woman and her family?

IT'S THANKFUL THURSDAY - MY HUSBAND - MY SOUL MATE

 

Photo by Google User Content

Shh!  Don't tell him, but I LOVE BARRETT.

It takes effort to have a relationship with anyone; especially if one of those individuals is disabled and especially if it is an intimate relationship. 

My husband is unique.  We drive each other crazy.  Well, I drive him crazy because I am already crazy.

We've known each other for 25 years.  On November 7th, we'll be married for 24 years. 

He's been through the best and worst with me.

Every disability has its own set of challenges.  When those collide with the individual's personalities; they ebb and flow with each other like a river and when you add other disabilities, such as a mental illness, you get the perfect storm.

There is a quote from Legends of the Fall that describes this ideal situation perfectly:

She is like the water that freezes inside the rock and breaks it apart.  It was no more her fault than it is the fault of the water when the rock shatters.

You won't find too many people who can be there in the midst of the storm and are willing to be there through the good times and the bad.  It's not because they don't want to, sometimes people just can't carry someone else's burdens along with their own.  

It reminds me of a cartoon waitress, carrying multiple trays  

Photo by Favpng

However, if you are blessed to find such a gem, cherish them.  Forgive them even when they don't ask for it.  Pray for them always.   Be patient with them and pray they are patient with them.  Remember this isn't just your disability, it's theirs too.  You didn't choose your disabilities,  but to some extent they did; regardless of whether it's your parents, family, friends, or significant other.    Where you need and expect them to take care of you,  you always need to be thankful for those who help and/or take care of us.  It's easy for us to get frustrated with our disability and take it out on the person or people who are taking care of us. 

 It's been said that we hurt the ones we love the most.  I think it's because we naturally assume that the people around us, love us and we take advantage of them.

That's why I'm so thankful and love Barrett so much!

Thankful Thursday: Why its Important to Be Thankful

Sometimes, it may be difficult to identify one certain that you're thankful for.  You know there are million different things, but maybe because of your mood and/or the situation you're in at the time, you may find it hard to pinpoint an exact thing you're grateful for.

Sigh...That's where I am today.

To be thankful is a verb.  I am going to choose something to be thankful for...

I am thankful that we had a good tech today.  Her name is Dominique.  She is our regular tech Monday thru Friday from 6 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon.  She knows how to do her job well and efficiently.  She always has a good attitude towards us and does not make us feel bad when we need something.

I think it's important to tell people we appreciate them.  Sometimes it may be the only bright spot in their day.  Too many of us feel that we are entitled to things and don't have to say "THANK YOU", especially to those people whose job is to "serve us".

BUT... When we are the ones who serve, we expect to be thanked and are offended when we aren't.

We...are...HYPOCRITS! 

Doesn't everyone deserve kindness?  Even if; especially if, they don't deserve it.

Mathew 5:38-40(NIV)

"You have heard it said: 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.  If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well."

I think if we all treated each other life we like we would want to be treated, the world would be a much better place.