Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you, before the opportunity flees and only regrets remain.
My husband was an car accident victim that caused early dementia.
It took seven years of slow deteriorating and watching my husband, my rock and the joy of my life retreat into the imprisoned world of Alzheimer's.
Anyone who has witnessed a loved one with this terrible disease, no explanation of pain and heartache for the patient and their loved ones is necessary.
I still think of my husband as my rock, my joy and my strength. I visit him in my thoughts and in my heart and today as my thoughts ponder a
" Thankful Thursday " blog, he vividly comes into my thoughts.
Why would this have anything to do with being thankful "...watching someone I love drift into another world without me..into an untouchable world of emptiness.
Four months before Alzheimer's won the battle and ended my husband's earthly life, I was forced to put him into a nursing home.
I had an accident, fell and severely broke my wrist. I had to have surgery.
The nursing home was to be a temporary solution and the most heart wrenching, difficult decision of my life.
I gave in kicking, screaming and crying but with no other option.
The nursing home was a few blocks from my office. I was at the nursing home during the hours my husband was awake and ran to the office to do real estate when he was asleep.
I was there to hold his hand, to talk to him, to visually show him, he was not alone. I repeatedly told him I loved him.I was alright and I knew he was alright knowing I was there...
but what I did notice.....was.....empty, lonely lives......just waiting for someone....anyone....to share a little time... a little conversation.....patients who for years have had few visits from anyone familiar.
I saw lonely, fearful, unhappy imprisoned people whose world was a building of the unheard.
Why today this thought has impressed so heavily on my heart...I am not sure...Maybe it is to get a message to others to be mindful that there are those who need so much of what we can give ...freely...... our time, our concern, our prayers, our visits, our attention.
People are starving in more ways than one in our country, especially the very young and the elderly. Please let's not forget them.
Yes I am " Thankful" today because my husband, my family and my friends know how much I love and care for them.
I know this blog is personal but my four months of experiences within the nursing home brought such an awareness of the how the power of love can empower the powerless.
The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you love them. - Unknown
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