Wow, is it ever hard to see a loved one waste away and know there is nothing you can do about it without removing their control over their own life.
Let’s face the facts. After someone suffers a stroke on the right side of their brain, many things change. My dad is now a night owl where before he was an early morning person. Now he rarely has any appetite for food, perhaps once or twice a day. It is hard to get him to eat. Lack of hunger is a side effect of the drugs he is forced to take. If he stops the drugs, his chemical balance would spin out of control and he would die in a short period of time.
When you are not hungry should your family members force you to eat?
After all the things my dad has been through I refuse to remove his right to choose. That is what gives him some human dignity. As long as he has a clear mind, I believe he should have the choice of when, what and how much to eat. Even though he eats rarely and small amounts, his enjoyment of his food is greatest when he feels hungry. I will fight for his right to enjoy food when he feels like it.
Food is one of the greatest pleasures in life.
When people are experiencing their final days here on earth, don’t you think it is important to let them eat the food they love? Whatever they eat won’t make that much difference on their health, within reason.
Enjoy the next part of the orignial Zuranski catastrophic illness crisis below.
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“Sometimes Miracles Appear Just When You Need Them!” by Ralph Zuranski
The wisest decision we ever made was to hire an expert to work with dad!
All the tasks required for the care and upkeep of a person with a stroke can be wearing, frustrating and tedious. In the process of selling my dad’s car, a young man named Scott believed my reports about the car. He bought the car immediately, even though it was not exactly what he was looking for. As it turns out, he was another of God’s little miracles.
One of the top therapists for spine and stroke injured patients appeared at our door.
Scott is a master massager. He just got a job at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. That is why he needed a reliable car that would carry his massage table from Ocean Beach to La Jolla. When he told me about working with one of the greatest quadraplegic athletes, Jim Mac Laren, I was amazed. Our family hired him on the spot to help out with dad twice a day.
Scott is an amazing person, who knows just the right places to work on my dad’s injured muscles.
His massages of the paralyzed left side are phenomenal. Scott knows just where to work to alleviate dad’s pain from pulled muscles. He also washes him tenderly, preps dad for breakfast and does an entire mobility sequence to keep his body supple.
This is a huge aid in the morning because it allows me to start work at 6 AM and continue throughout the morning uninterrupted.
I have spent as much time as I can taking care of mom and dad. Now it is time to get back into the saddle and put in an 8 hour day working on transcribing the health heroes’ interviews and creating websites for them.
I hope to have great information about alternative health each day, regarding strokes, congestive heart failure and Alzheimer’s.
That is my goal but of course it is very optimistic. There are so many things that appear out of the blue that require my assistance. Tomorrow I have to take mom and dad to the doctors for another check up. This will be challenging getting both of them into the car, out of the car at the doctors and back in again.
Sometimes, humor can really help.
The simple redundant activities really challenge your peace of mind. I know it would be impossible to keep my sanity and positive attitude without prayer. It blows my mind how strong some people are on their own.
For me it is a great comfort to know that everything is in God’s capable hands.
The events of the last three months are an important aspect of my training here to be a greater servant of all on this earth. I can hardly wait until my service here is finished so I can experience firsthand God’s great benefits package in heaven.
So many people are seeking wealth, material possessions, pleasure, and power exclulsive of their spiritual development.
What will be their fate when they pass from this earth? I love the scripture that says, “Where your treasure is, there also will be your heart.” The world would be a better place if more people wanted to serve others than themselves.
Today, Sunday was a very special day with my mom and dad.
I was the total support force today. Scott had the day off. I did all the cleaning, exercising, feeding and moving into the wheel chair and back into bed. I am thankful for the weight belt, because it really saves your back.
One of my longtime friends, Bob Sturch, a fabulous barber, was kind enough to come over to cut dad’s hair.
We all sat out in the back yard in the warm, gentle sun, listening to healing classical music. There is really something special about getting your hair cut and face shaved under a clear blue sky in sunny San Diego.
Dad looks and acts so much better, you know his self-confidence still has a lot to do with how he appears.
I guess everyone wants to look good until we pass on into eternity. It is amazing how much clean clothes, a stylish hair cut and a close shave can uplift one’s spirits.
It is amazing how many people in the baby boomer generation have already had to take care of one of their relatives or are in the process.
I am so impressed by everyone who bit the bullet and stepped up to the plate. There are so many HEROES amoung us who quietly (H)elp (E)nthusiastically, (R)esponsibly, (O)ptimistically, (E)xceptionally (S)ocially and/or (S)piritually. Hopefully on my site In Search Of Hereos, these people will be honored for their wonderful service to thier families and society.
To Be Continued…