The ABC’s of Caregiving

Manage your headache

November is coming to an end and so shall the Caregiver’s Month! I had compiled our own journey over the last 2 years, more from a caregiver’s viewpoint and arranged in an Acrostic Form to end the Caregiver’s Month 2007. Many who went through the same journey may be able to identify the various emotional experiences that we share here

  • A is for Appointments – the various medical check-ups, Physio and Occupational Therapy Sessions.
  • B is for Bills – additional Medical, Health Supplements, Special Food and some basic Equipment.
  • C is for Cooking and Chauffeuring – a new Job Specs added automatically in which I am least qualified especially cooking.
  • D is for Depression – something I have to learn to cope with, both hers and mine.
  • E is for Endurance – the bitterness, complaints, low moods as well as physical exhaustion.
  • F is for Frustration – when progress seems painfully slow and the feeling of inadequacy to help in any way.
  • G is for Grateful – that things could have been much worse if not for God’s Grace.
  • H is for Help – much needed and never turn down an offer.
  • I is for Inter-dependence – something we both learn from each other.
  • J is for Joy – when we see progress and an empty handicapped parking lot.
  • K is for Knowledge – about Stroke Recurrence, Health Food, New Treatments and Exercises.
  • L is for Love – lots of it since there is no remuneration, overtime or off days.

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  • M is for Money – need quite a bit of it to pay the bills.
  • N is for Nappies – plenty of them in the first two months.
  • O is for Oh my God! When I discover her on the floor!
  • P is for Prayer – need it very much to go through it all in one piece together.
  • Q is for Quantity – plenty of pills to take in the morning and evening.
  • R is for Rest – very much needed for me for recharging.
  • S is for Sadness – when we see people going on holidays, jogging and the like.
  • T is for Time – when can I be back to normal again?
  • U is for U-turn – something on the wish-list of a Stroke Survivor.
  • V is for Vacation – I wish this job have one.
  • W is for Weeping – we both do that out of sight when things look bleak and apparently impossible.
  • X is for Sex – what else do you think? We are not telling!
  • Y is for Yoke – something around my neck.
  • Z is for Zoo – the cage where we are locked in since October 2005!

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Keep this walking stick handy, and be safe.

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