Dementia at Fifty!

You shouldn’t stick things up your butt, especially your toothbrush! This was what the doctor asked the patient in the room next to Larry’s at the Emergency Department Wednesday. I know, those who know him probably wouldn’t be surprised but thank goodness it wasn’t directed at him. I had a good laugh though.

So, before the ER visit and the last couple of weeks life was running smoothly, the holidays were wonderful. Between visits with my family, his family and our friends it was the very best it could have been. Larry was present for everything and he enjoyed our grandchildren so much. I thank God every day and was overjoyed at just how special Christmas was for us. I had convinced myself if this one was our last Christmas together we did it right!

Now, here we are a month into 2024 and I’m sitting in another ER. Larry began feeling lightheaded and unsteady on his feet about 3 weeks ago. He has taken a few bad falls and been too weak to get up without assistance. All of his vitals were ok until they just weren’t …. he went from a normal BP of 116/70 to 70/38 and it was scary! Happy Birthday to Larry, he was transferred to a hospital in Gainesville to find out what is going on.

This visit has been a doozy! Not because of dementia but internal bleeding…scary! They’ve adjusted some meds and discontinued a blood thinner and hoping over the next couple of days Larry’s body will heal itself. I’m putting my faith in God and holding on. It works and thankfully Larry is feeling better after, 7+ (I stopped counting) blood transfusions. One night we were talking in to the night and he brought up my Grandma Rose. If you knew my Grandma you knew someone too special for words. I like to think I get some of my savvy writing skills from her. Anyway, my Grandma wrote a book on her life, my very talented Aunt wrote the final chapter after Grandma made it up to Heaven. Larry asked me to read it to him. He loved my grandma and she loved him. She loved all my cousins (all girls, 2 boys) husbands too. Well, I’m not really going anywhere with this except that it made me feel good that he remembered the book and wants to hear it read to him. I mean, he can read of course, but he’s been having some vision issues so he gets a pass and I get to read a Best-Seller, if it were for sale.

Time marches on outside of the hospital walls, it’s a depressing place to be, as I walk the halls day or night it saddens me to see all of the patients who are alone, no visitors, nurses are so busy the calls go answered sometimes for too long, but the nurses are mostly kind, thoughtful and good at the job they’ve chosen. I couldn’t to do, for sure!

Larry proceeded to get stronger and after 15 days in the hospital he was transferred to Brooks rehab in Jacksonville to gain some strength and balance back. He worked hard at rehab for 12 days and continues to work hard at home today. God is Good!