An ounce of prevention...
Gilly sneezed repeatedly throughout the evening, but not a one during the night. At breakfast (around 10:00) he started up again, but much less frequently. It doesn’t seem like a cold, but we’ll be at the Jewish tomorrow for physio, so we can easily check it out if need be. No fever, which is a good thing.
This is an appropriate time and place to emphasize Gilly’s susceptibility to illness, now that he has had his first chemo session of somewhere between 8 and 11 more to come. He may not be able to fight off colds and other sorts of viruses, etc. so PLEASE be sure to bear this is mind if you are thinking of visiting him. He cannot live in a bubble, but there are steps we can all take to promote his safety. I myself am extremely careful to wash my hands, disinfect work surfaces in the kitchen and prepare and store foods safely. I do my best with what knowledge I have.
I’d rate Gilly’s energy level today to be on a gradual upswing; his overall demeanor seems marginally stronger. He walked a tad farther down the road this afternoon. His spirits are good, but he continues to need prodding to get him to eat and work out according to Thi’s instructions. This is my greatest challenge as a caregiver, because it sets me up as a nag and a half.
There’s no magic switch to turn on motivation; somehow, it must emanate from within (intrinsic motivation, as it is called in the literature). I am interested in and read about the topic of motivation all the time, on a professional level. I never dreamed of applying the principles to a person with an illness, let alone my best friend. It’s not as simple as dangling a carrot in front of his nose (and what the nature of that carrot might be is beyond me in this circumstance); he has to somehow accpet and deal with his plight, which poses ongoing enormous obstacles for him to overcome. It's hard for any of us to imagine what it must be like to have the carpet pulled from under one's entire life, no matter how empathetic one might be.
Walking down the scenic road with Gilly by my side, I have time to ponder (since he barely speaks and tires of my numerous attempts to strike up conversation). Today I was imagining how different our interactions would be if he developed some self-determination in two main areas (eating and following an exercise program). My hope is that one day soon he will take back the reigns and steer himself in an uphill direction. In the meantime, I try gentle reminders, and when that doesn’t work, I bump my efforts up a notch, and so on and so on…
The days are cooler now, so today Gilly bundled up and sat out on the porch for hours on end. I just had my final lake swim of the long weekend, and am packing up for the return trip while Gilly naps on a lounger. I don’t want to arrive home too late, because tomorrow is an early morning, so I must sign off, and pack up my computer.
This is an appropriate time and place to emphasize Gilly’s susceptibility to illness, now that he has had his first chemo session of somewhere between 8 and 11 more to come. He may not be able to fight off colds and other sorts of viruses, etc. so PLEASE be sure to bear this is mind if you are thinking of visiting him. He cannot live in a bubble, but there are steps we can all take to promote his safety. I myself am extremely careful to wash my hands, disinfect work surfaces in the kitchen and prepare and store foods safely. I do my best with what knowledge I have.
I’d rate Gilly’s energy level today to be on a gradual upswing; his overall demeanor seems marginally stronger. He walked a tad farther down the road this afternoon. His spirits are good, but he continues to need prodding to get him to eat and work out according to Thi’s instructions. This is my greatest challenge as a caregiver, because it sets me up as a nag and a half.
There’s no magic switch to turn on motivation; somehow, it must emanate from within (intrinsic motivation, as it is called in the literature). I am interested in and read about the topic of motivation all the time, on a professional level. I never dreamed of applying the principles to a person with an illness, let alone my best friend. It’s not as simple as dangling a carrot in front of his nose (and what the nature of that carrot might be is beyond me in this circumstance); he has to somehow accpet and deal with his plight, which poses ongoing enormous obstacles for him to overcome. It's hard for any of us to imagine what it must be like to have the carpet pulled from under one's entire life, no matter how empathetic one might be.
Walking down the scenic road with Gilly by my side, I have time to ponder (since he barely speaks and tires of my numerous attempts to strike up conversation). Today I was imagining how different our interactions would be if he developed some self-determination in two main areas (eating and following an exercise program). My hope is that one day soon he will take back the reigns and steer himself in an uphill direction. In the meantime, I try gentle reminders, and when that doesn’t work, I bump my efforts up a notch, and so on and so on…
The days are cooler now, so today Gilly bundled up and sat out on the porch for hours on end. I just had my final lake swim of the long weekend, and am packing up for the return trip while Gilly naps on a lounger. I don’t want to arrive home too late, because tomorrow is an early morning, so I must sign off, and pack up my computer.
posted by Gilly at 3:57 PM
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