Announcements: Happy Anniversary!
Posted Jan 24, 2022 6:54PM EST
OlderGay.Men turns 26 today. We've had a good year and welcomed many new friends. I've been less active here since the fall. My partner's on his third hospitalization since October. He went back with congestive heart failure in December and came home but never really recovered. It became enough of a struggle that he wanted to go in again. He's been in eleven days, and we hope he'll transfer to a rehab center tomorrow. As many of you have experienced, the worst of it now is that he has to be alone due to COVID restrictions. I'm down to hoping I'll have a moment with him if I camp out at the ambulance door until he's wheeled out for the transfer.
When he was home, there was a long list of chores to be done each day, and he had me up several times each night when he couldn't catch his breath. I worry that's going to be part of life now. He doesn't sound better on the phone, and the doctor says he'll likely always be facing this. I hope we'll find ways to keep him comfortable when he comes home. I just want him home, or to be there with him.
Cheerful news for a happy anniversary, no? 🙂 It's all to say that I've been doing a lot of caregiving and there's even more ahead, so understand if no new features pop up on the site soon. We will be maintaining it and will be here for you, and you all seem pretty busy with it as it is. Thanks for being a part, and I hope we all look back on a good year next time.
Comments
- almost 3 years ago
Hey Jeff, so sorry to hear Al is back in the hospital. And I know that when he is home, you have a 24 hour-a-day “job”. I went thru it, including getting up several times each night when Mel was not in the hospital. Also, there were no visitors allowed at first (May 2020), but beginning in the middle of June they let one visitor per patient from 2 pm to 8 pm, so I was there every day.
I hope he improves more than expected in rehab, and that you two can go back to enjoying life at home.
Love to both of you!
KXF700almost 3 years agoHi Jeff! Lots of force for both of you! Hugs from Brazil!
Rickgalmost 3 years agoJeff, Lots of hugs from me. My spouse is now handicapped and I am becoming more and more of a caregiver as well. When you say"in sickness and in health", you don’t really think what those words mean. Best wishes and thanks for this site.
LICKSGDEalmost 3 years agoI unfortunately had to go through it recently. It us painful and sad. All I can say is stay strong, keep the conversation going, record what you can. The loss will be heartbreaking. And very importantly, take good care of yourself too.
Bob halmost 3 years agoit’s tough bong a caregiver but your reward is your knowing you are there for him and he knowing you are there.
- LICKSGDEalmost 3 years ago
I promised to take care of him and him me. It is a commitment that we both made. It still hurts when I think about him. All I can do is try to hold on to the memories as the physical part is gone forever.
I also consider myself being very lucky as he passed away at home where he wanted and I was holding his hand till the very end. Not many people have the luxury of doing it especially in the current situation that the world is in.