My Day At The Doctor

I have been dealing with so much these past three months, sometimes I am amazed at how God and you have picked me up and carried me throughout the days. Days of feeling too sad to get out of bed. Days of not wanting to make any decisions, and believe it or not, there have been days I don’t want to eat.

Taking care of my brother was probably the biggest challenge I ever have had in my life. So many friends and family told me over and over, take a break, take a rest, get away. Sometimes I listened, others I didn’t.  I don’t blame what I heard today on my care of Al, but when you run on stress month after month, it can set you up for low immunity.

I always felt even though there were times I had help, there was still no one that could take care of him giving him all the emotional support better than me. Of course there are consequences to letting your  mind and body go for months without the proper rest, care and nutrition; so if you are a caregiver, make and take the time, to consider you. Even short breaks does the mind and body good.

Last winter I started having problems, not bad, but enough that I noticed and knew something was happening within me. I tried my best to ignore them and go forward; after all Al needed me. After Al passed, it seemed that my body gave in to whatever it wanted to.

I had ear infections, eye infections. I pulled my arm and damaged a nerve and strained some ligaments. I got tired and seemed to have no energy; even if I slept for hours and hours, I still felt exhausted.

I began to notice that I would sometimes see the words I was typing jump around on the screen. Once again, I was suspicious, but ignored it. It wasn’t something I couldn’t deal with. Then more and more often I had trouble swallowing. It didn’t matter if it was my medications or a bite of food, it just wouldn’t go down. After all, I had taken care of Al for seven years, and my father for a year, and numerous other patients for a total of 23 years, so I could deal with a few minor issues, right?

The next thing I noticed is that when I walked very long I would feel inside my head become  unsteady. I wouldn’t fall; but I felt like I was going to. I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together and went to my doctor a few times.

I knew my history as far as my family went, so I wasn’t really shocked when I heard the news. I was more in question of why me? After all I did helping others make it through life and death situations, I should be left alone.

But, we know God has his plans, and we sometimes have to face it that our lives may take a turn that we don’t really wish for, and this is one time for me.

I have decided to put my home up for sale and move closer to my daughter. My doctor highly recommended it. Not only for the fact that everywhere I go in my home, I see Al, but also if I need additional help or support, she and her family will make the time for me.

Like I said earlier, I wasn’t shocked as this illness runs very high in my dad’s side of the family, so when I heard the words Parkinson’s Disease, I didn’t pass out. The doctor explained that since I am so far down the line, that I have a high percentage of not having a full-blown PD. Right now my head tremors and my one hand when I am trying to hold food or something. Swallowing and feeling unsteady are still with me.

I have faith I will get through this, but it brings me huge comfort that I will not have to travel this road alone. I am going to work harder on doing what I did with Al; finding at least one small thing that is positive in my day. I am going to try to stay out of my bed more.

You can live many years with PD, and hopefully the quality of years I have left will be more beneficial than not. The last thing I ever want to dump on my family’s lap is the word burden.

 

MY FEELINGS

MY FEELINGS

 

Oh whisper to me

Oh great one

You, who have

All answers

Tell me why

This day has

Been different

Explain my

Face today

For I have

Gazed up to

The skies

I have knelt

Down on my knees

I am listening

And waiting almighty

But alas I hear

No replies

Forcing me to

Look within

To feel what

Lives today

The mind

Is complex

And I do

Not always know

So I will

Instead look

Level into

Your eyes

And see my

Reflection in you

A smile breaks

Out and our

Hearts connect

I had it all

The time but

Was too

Blinded to see

My feelings.

 

Written by,

Terry Shepherd

07.16.2014

 

 

Did You Know?

 

 

Have you ever wondered why when someone yawns, the other person follows suit? Yawning is caused due to low levels of oxygen in the air, which makes the body intake large amounts of oxygen. The reason why yawning is said to be contagious is because when we do so, we are actually activating our nervous system. This has something to do with the survival instinct we have inherited in the course of evolutionary past. In the primitive years, when someone would yawn, the whole group would become alert and get better at sensing danger.

The dragon blood tree is one of the most popular natural wonders growing in and around the Mediterranean region. The tree gives out a deep scarlet colored sap, which is why it is given the peculiar name. The sap is believed to have excellent healing qualities and is used by the locals to cure various diseases and wounds. It is a popular practice to use the gum extracted from the roots of these awe-striking trees in the manufacture of varnishes and toothpastes.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born 18 July in the year 1918. He was named Rolihlahla and got the name Mandela from his grandfather. The name Nelson was given to him by his teacher Miss Mdingane. He was born in Mveso, Umtata in the Cape Province. After the death of his father he was looked after by his relative. He became the first child of Mandela family to get education. He was an intelligent child and completed the Junior certificate in two years instead of three. Nelson took admission in the University of Fort Hare to do Bachelor’s in Arts but was soon suspended as he joined in the protest boycott. He accomplished his graduation through correspondence from the University of South Africa. Mandela was a bright student and while in prison he studied and passed Bachelor’s degree of Law from the University of London External Program and in 1952 he along with Tambo started the first legal firm for the black in South Africa.

In 1956 he was arrested for a deceit with 150 more blacks but they managed to elope in 1961; to escape arrest he disguised in different forms. Though a tough believer of non violence he formed MK guerrilla force to fight against apartheid. He was finally sent to prison in 1962 and was imprisoned for 27 long years and was released in 1990.

In 1994 he was elected the first South African president elected in the complete democratic elections. A simple president was well known for wearing Madiba shirts (batik painted). He was 75 when he was elected the president, the first oldest president.

Mandela has almost 250 prizes to his name. Some of them being Nobel Peace Prize, honorary Canadian citizen, Lenin Peace Prize and many others. His degrees are from the renowned Universities which are more than fifty from all around the world.

 

Johnny Campbell was the first to cheer the football team in 1898 in Princeton. Cheerleading is almost 100 years old when most of the cheerleaders were men. Now 98% of cheerleaders are females. The estimates tell that around the world there are more than 4 million cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are generally in the age group of 5 to 13 years. Most of the cheerleaders are gymnasts and 12% are dancers. In US 80% schools have cheerleading squads. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is the most famous squad. Football is most popular sport for cheerleading. Cheerleading is no doubt a dangerous sport as it involves injuries like broken bones, busted lips and serious injuries. Though cheerleading is to rouse the interest of match watchers, cheerleading in itself is a competitive sport. The competitive cheerleader must be a high level gymnast as she is to perform without any safeguards.