Comments on: Nana & Papa update http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/ Brewing and drinking beer, bragging on my kids and opening a window into my (sadly trivially) dark mind Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:33:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Pie http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-99 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:18:07 +0100 http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-99 Hi Doug, It's been a long time since I checked in with you, but I do think about you and your family fairly often. I'm sorry about Kel's folks being this way; getting old sucks but the alternative isn't so attractive either. I feel for your family, and I agree with Elayne. We went through similar with my in-laws and my mother, all suffered from dementia and its various glorious forms, and all are gone, and now my dad is starting to "go away" too. He'll be 90 next month, and starting to fade a little. We keep giving him something, some little event to look forward to like dinner with a distant relative, a small trip (he flew to Seattle to visit our daughters and drove back to LA with us so that's really a big trip) or a birthday party, with the idea that it will keep him with us, but we can see that his interest in being here is waning. Take care. Jeanne, aka Pie Hi Doug,
It’s been a long time since I checked in with you, but I do think about you and your family fairly often.

I’m sorry about Kel’s folks being this way; getting old sucks but the alternative isn’t so attractive either. I feel for your family, and I agree with Elayne.

We went through similar with my in-laws and my mother, all suffered from dementia and its various glorious forms, and all are gone, and now my dad is starting to “go away” too. He’ll be 90 next month, and starting to fade a little. We keep giving him something, some little event to look forward to like dinner with a distant relative, a small trip (he flew to Seattle to visit our daughters and drove back to LA with us so that’s really a big trip) or a birthday party, with the idea that it will keep him with us, but we can see that his interest in being here is waning.

Take care.

Jeanne, aka Pie

]]> by: elayne http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-95 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:16:25 +0000 http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-95 This was a very poignant post; the photo of "Nana" at Christmas time nearly made me cry. Frighteningly, I found myself nodding in understanding/agreement with a lot of what you describe of her withdrawal and lack of interest. Has she been evaluated or offered treatment for depression? I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't think I could do what y'all are doing - I admire you both so much for your devotion and dedication in this situation. What a wonderful example for the kids. This was a very poignant post; the photo of “Nana” at Christmas time nearly made me cry.

Frighteningly, I found myself nodding in understanding/agreement with a lot of what you describe of her withdrawal and lack of interest. Has she been evaluated or offered treatment for depression?

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I don’t think I could do what y’all are doing - I admire you both so much for your devotion and dedication in this situation. What a wonderful example for the kids.

]]> by: Kelleigh http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-94 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:32:59 +0000 http://shyzaboy.blogsome.com/2008/03/23/nana-papa-update/#comment-94 You got it about right, except the emergency room visit. She went to her normal doctors where they could take the x-ray. She kept telling us that she was better and that she didn't need to go. So next time, we just take her. The funny thing about her arm was that there was no bruising or swelling. In fact, she was complaining about her wrist, not her upper arm. So it appeared fine. Again, next time we just take her. Regarding Mom's withdrawal, it's painful. Hardly anything engages her. I believe I've already lost my mother and yet I see her shell sitting in the sunroom every day. At least she recognizes me which is better than if she had Alzheimer’s. Dad on the other hand is a stable for now. At least as far as his health is concerned. But he too has left us. Instead of my father, there is this weird skinny guy who thinks he's a "beyonder" and is only one letter away from being a multi-millionaire. Even though that's been going on for quite some time, it still pains me when he has to tell complete strangers about how he is "special." He was always special to me. Now he's just some old weird guy who smells funny and loses his temper when you tell him that his psychics are trying to milk him for every last penny they can. Growing old stinks, figuratively and literally. You got it about right, except the emergency room visit. She went to her normal doctors where they could take the x-ray. She kept telling us that she was better and that she didn’t need to go. So next time, we just take her. The funny thing about her arm was that there was no bruising or swelling. In fact, she was complaining about her wrist, not her upper arm. So it appeared fine. Again, next time we just take her.

Regarding Mom’s withdrawal, it’s painful. Hardly anything engages her. I believe I’ve already lost my mother and yet I see her shell sitting in the sunroom every day. At least she recognizes me which is better than if she had Alzheimer’s.

Dad on the other hand is a stable for now. At least as far as his health is concerned. But he too has left us. Instead of my father, there is this weird skinny guy who thinks he’s a “beyonder” and is only one letter away from being a multi-millionaire.

Even though that’s been going on for quite some time, it still pains me when he has to tell complete strangers about how he is “special.” He was always special to me. Now he’s just some old weird guy who smells funny and loses his temper when you tell him that his psychics are trying to milk him for every last penny they can.

Growing old stinks, figuratively and literally.

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