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Care
Partner of the Month
May / June
page 3
Robert Woodson, Sr.
Mount Vernon, NY
I admit that I basically shut down when all this happened. I was totally
overwhelmed by the thought of losing her and was frightened to leave
her bedside. I repeated to her over and over again that I'd stay there
right beside her as long as she hung on…and I have. I retired
from my job and committed myself 100% to her. I'm up early in the
morning, at the rehabilitation facility soon after she awakens and
I spend the day looking after her needs, giving her stimulation and
keeping her company. She is still incapable of using her limbs functionally
and she suffers from apraxia (a disorder of voluntary movement and
coordination in general). She can perform some minor tasks with her
hands, but that's about it without assistance. Of course, there are
staff members whose jobs are to care for the residents but I feel
responsible for her. I know that nobody else can take care of her
the way that I can. No one else has the same level of concern.But
I also feel completely drained.
Often times I feel like I'm stranded on an island. I'd like to attend
church services just to get the spiritual food and nurture that I
miss so much, but I'm nervous that I'll be called upon to get more
and more involved in the activities that I once enjoyed and, to tell
the truth, there's just not enough of me left to even consider that.
So I just stay away.
Edna has had a recent thorough neurological examination concluding
that she will probably never exceed more than 75% of full recovery.
I would judge that she's at about 65% right now. And so my journey
with her continues - I have to be her eyes, ears, legs and the only
one she can really depend on. Even though I have needs, I'd never
ask another person to help shoulder the burden I carry. It would be
asking too much of them. We've been together for ten years and I feel
closer to her now than I felt in the beginning of our marriage. I
continue to accept each day as it comes and, yes, I continue to pray
for a miracle."
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