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 Care
Partner of the Month- November/December Roberta Laws Brooklyn, New York "Selfless, loving, obedient and steadfast" are but a few of the words that illustrate Roberta's response to her most challenging times. Sharing the insightful story of her loss makes us all a little bit stronger. Roberta says: “Being the care partner for both of my parents until their passing was one the most challenging tasks of my life but certainly it was my GREATEST privilege. I remember feeling heartbroken and helpless as I watched my dad suffer tremendously before his passing in 1992 and I prayed that when my mom's life journey was at an end, she would cross over gently. On August 23, 2003 in Orlando, FL at the age of 88 my mother crossed over quietly and peacefully. I regretfully was in New York but fortunately my sister was in Orlando so Mom was not alone. I had begged her not to leave New York in 2001. I had been her caregiver since my father's passing but she insisted on going to warmer climate. On the 15th of August while I was on vacation, my mom suffered what appeared to be a stroke but on arrival to the hospital the doctors were not completely sure. She was lethargic but lucid and able to communicate. After a CAT scan and MRI were taken it showed no evidence of pressure on the brain though it was apparent to the doctors that she had suffered mini-strokes in the past. I found that baffling since my mom NEVER displayed any evidence of having suffered a stroke of any kind. In hindsight I think that her increasing inability to walk may have been due to a mini-stroke but since my mom suffered from severe rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, her PCP and I attributed the diminished capacity of the use of her legs to the arthritis. My mom also had pacemaker surgery in the late '90's and at that time there was no sign of stroke in the tests made before the surgery, so all of this was a complete surprise to me.  |
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