Should I or Shouldn't I????

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Proverbs 20:20

Well, Dad was in the smaller hospital that I mentioned in the previous post. After returning from our lunch in the cafeteria, we saw that Dad had a piece of coconut cream pie on the rolling table in front of him. The Specialist in the previous hospital said Dad needed to be on a pureed diet, since he continues to have aspiration pneumonia. Although, I had previously signed a wavier at the Veteran's Home to allow him to have cut up food instead, they no longer honored the wavier and only give him pureed, because of that Specialist's recommendation.

Since they puree Dad's pie in the Veteran's Home, I knew they wouldn't have allowed it. I debated whether they might have returned Dad to a more regular diet or just made a mistake. I figured it didn't matter. My dad loves cream pies and it's one of life's pleasures he doesn't get to enjoy these days, so I let him go ahead and eat it.

In fact, my husband got him some Key Lime Pie Cheesecake the next day, which he enjoyed dearly! Fortunately, neither of these had any affect on Dad, but he really enjoyed eating regular food instead of pureed. In my opinion, it's a Quality of Life thing and I want my dad to be happy. We have been so blessed to have all this extra time with Dad. 

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
By: Lauren Iwata, Matthew Endter, Keiro Interns, keiroliving via You Tube

Which Hospital?

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

That night, I went to get my cell phone in the kitchen to plug into the charger and saw we had gotten a call from the Veteran's Home. When I called back, they said that Dad was sent to the hospital, because he was throwing up brown stuff and they thought it was blood. They thought he was sent to the bigger hospital about 30 miles away from the Veteran's Home. I called the big hospital to find out how Dad was doing, before we headed off to go see him. They told me that they didn't have anyone there by that name. It's a little disconcerting to get that response, but I knew there was a smaller, satellite hospital in the same town as the Veteran's Home, so I called them.

Fortunately, Dad was there. I explained we were in the process of packing to come see him, because either hospital is about an hour or so away and we would probably be staying for several days. The doctor I talked to said to wait on coming, because they might have to send him to the big hospital, depending on the results of his tests. He kindly told me that he would call me when they make that determination.

He called shortly after midnight and said that they were going to keep Dad at the little hospital, since his problems had more to do with his digestive systems. I was so relieved to know that he didn't have pneumonia again, which has been a reoccurring problem for Dad. The doctor said that Dad was already in bed. Since it was after midnight, we decided to get a good night's sleep and go up the next morning. They treated Dad for several days and he was able to go back to the Veteran's Home. Yeah! We have been so blessed by having this extra time with Dad! Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.


What Seemed the Worst Thing Turned Out to Be the Best!

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Psalm 127:4

My dad used to be a strong man, independent, well-respected by many, and a man of his word. His having Parkinson's Disease has undermined much of this. His legs can't consistently get the signals his brain sends for him to walk. He fell so many times and broke so many bones that he has to use a wheel chair.

When he was in smaller facilities, Dad didn't feel very well respected by anyone. I think he felt it was an assault on his dignity to be in a wheel chair and be dependent on others to get him in and out of the chair and on and off the toilet. I felt he was grieving the use of his legs, his independence and strength.

The doctors said that Dad couldn't continue to stay in the smaller facility, although it was closer to me, and they were very dedicated to making Dad's life as comfortable as possible. They said that because of Dad's continued bouts of aspiration pneumonia, he needed to live in a skilled nursing facility.

Neither Dad nor I wanted him to go back to the local nursing home. He had some negative experiences there. We checked out the closest State Veteran's Home in our state. Because Dad had been in the hospital and had immediate nursing needs, he was moved up higher on the waiting list and was able to get a room. I really wanted Dad to stay closer to me and didn't want him an hour away from us.

My dad is still a man of his word and that's something that can't be taken away from him, but now he has some of his strength back. Physical therapy at the Veteran's Home works with him to help him make transfers easier and that makes Dad feel less of a burden and more independent. He has his own room at the Veteran's Home, so that adds to his sense of independence. The vast majority of the veteran residents there are in wheel chairs, which has helped my dad's grief over his mobility. Many of these are vital men who move about the Veteran's Home, have conversations with each other, and enjoy the activities provided. It's been a real blessing for my dad and for me to see him happier. What seemed like the worst thing turned out to be the best! As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Psalm 127:4

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
By: Stronger Seniors, Stronger Seniors Strength dvd, Anne Pringle Burnell via You Tube



A Difference of Opinion

Romans 3: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

The speech pathologist in the hospital had a different idea of what was best for my dad when he went to the hospital recently for aspiration pneumonia. She wanted Dad to have a feeding tube inserted and used for the remainder of my Dad's life, so he would be less likely to have another bout of aspiration pneumonia.

I, on the other hand, know my dad wouldn't like to have a feeding tube and really gets a great deal of pleasure from eating. What's more than that, my dad is very self-conscious of not doing anything that's different than what the rest of the residents are doing in the Veteran's Home where he resides. He wouldn't eat the pureed food, because it looked like a plate of baby food when the other residents had regular meals.

I could tell by her reactions that she felt I wasn't being sensitive to my dad's needs and was taking risks that might shorten his life. I, on the other hand, knew from a previous conversation with Dad, that he didn't want to have a feeding tube. I was frustrated by our interactions, as was she, but I have to remind myself that we were both approaching this situation with what we thought was best for Dad's well-being. I really tried to be prayerful about this, right after that experience, for Christ to heal both of our hearts about this matter. This Bible verse seems so fitting related to this. Romans 3: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.


Trying to Be an Example of Christ's Love for Dad

Luke 5: 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, they that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

My dad isn't an outwardly religious person. In fact, when I've tried to talk to him about anything related to his faith in Christ, he usually clams up. The tricky thing is that with Dad's health condition, I want to make sure Dad goes to heaven should anything happen to him.

Well, the underlined portion of that statement is where the problem lies. I can't, in and of myself, make sure Dad goes to heaven, only Jesus can. In fact, that when I try too hard, it has the opposite outcome.

I have learned that I have to try to be an example of Christ's love for Dad. I try to be patient when he's impatient. I try to be kind when he's been rude. I try to be understanding when he has a lack of tolerance, but none of this comes from me. Fortunately for me, Christ reminds me of how blessed I am to have this extra time with my dad. He reminds me that trying to make my dad embrace an active relationship with Jesus is counterproductive, but Christ has a big heart and sometimes works through subtle forms of love. I am reassured, because my dad even lets me read him a chapter from the Bible, periodically when I visit. God is good!

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.


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