Gadgets and gizmos
Each day I think I’ve got it all figured out and then wham, something new strikes and I’m back to square one. Luckily, the superb community health care system seems to have answers to every new obstacle.
The nurse from the CSSS showed up this morning at 10:30. I was still lounging about in my nightie, tending to Gilly when the doorbell rang. She checked him all out, offered suggestions and gadgets and insisted I turn the bed around so I could get to him from every side. I suspected that the arrangement was not right, but didn’t know how to fix it until she told me point blank that this room configuration would not work. She bid us adieu, promising to return next Wednesday.
I woke Yaron and tried to explain how to move things around (I needed his muscle), but he politely moved me aside and in two minutes was able to solve the problem. He has an amazing spatial sense, as his father once did.
The phone started to ring off the hook from that moment on. Countless calls came in, one after the other. Josee-Marie called to say she’d be in tomorrow at 8:00 (she gives an exact time and waits in her car if she’s even a moment early; this is convenient because I know exactly when to be dressed and ready to greet her).
I peered out the window of Gilly’s room as I worked on my computer and noticed a car pull up. I smiled at Gilly as snacked on fruit and informed him that Danielle, the male preposer would be entering soon to bathe him (the spell check won’t accept this word in English or French, but I was told that this is the name of the person who takes care of bathing and what not). My phone rang and sure enough it was Danielle, apologizing for being early and wondering if it would be O.K. to get started earlier. I welcomed the possibility; he said he’d be in momentarily as he had some work to attend to in his car. I know that deal; my car was my second (or should I say third) office until Yaron became licensed.
Danielle showed me many tricks for lifting and transferring Gilly. He taught me to raise the bed higher (the electronic controls were on backwards). He provided more gizmos and gadgets and taught me many new things. He went over the list of what a preposer could potentially do for us and suggested I think about adding on services. He explained that a visit usually takes 45 minutes, but if more tasks are required, the office will allow 1 ½ hours 3 times a week. Sadly, he will not be the one to come on a regular basis, because he does not cover this region normally, but the other person who will take over will also be a male. I am thrilled. I found that Gilly was more responsive to Danielle than he is to the female caregivers when they try to bathe him. I fully understand how he feels. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of males in this field, so we have to take what we can get.
Brad called to tell me that the caregiver (a woman named Raquel who has palliative care experience) will come tomorrow for the first time, and this will continue 5 days a week. I look forward to meeting her tomorrow and building a relationship with her. At least I will be home to get to know her this time, as opposed to running off to work with a stranger caring for my husband. I will take advantage of her being here by going out, but not tomorrow.
The day was busier than I thought it would be. Tamara came by with Max to watch over Gilly while I went out for dinner. I could tell that she noticed a huge difference in the extent to which Gilly requires care now. It is difficult to swallow.
He slept away most of the day and evening. He is not in any discomfort, or so it seems, and he seems at peace, but it is heart breaking to watch him become weaker by the day.
We continue to look forward to Shabbat dinner this week. It is the first candle lighting. We will adorn our balcony with the large hannukia Gilly made last year with large metal pipes and light bulbs. He had a habit of designing different types of menorahs over the years. Some may remember the large one he made out of ice up north one winter holiday many moons ago. I have a marvelous picture of it; he wore a grin from ear to ear, as was another of his habits.
The nurse from the CSSS showed up this morning at 10:30. I was still lounging about in my nightie, tending to Gilly when the doorbell rang. She checked him all out, offered suggestions and gadgets and insisted I turn the bed around so I could get to him from every side. I suspected that the arrangement was not right, but didn’t know how to fix it until she told me point blank that this room configuration would not work. She bid us adieu, promising to return next Wednesday.
I woke Yaron and tried to explain how to move things around (I needed his muscle), but he politely moved me aside and in two minutes was able to solve the problem. He has an amazing spatial sense, as his father once did.
The phone started to ring off the hook from that moment on. Countless calls came in, one after the other. Josee-Marie called to say she’d be in tomorrow at 8:00 (she gives an exact time and waits in her car if she’s even a moment early; this is convenient because I know exactly when to be dressed and ready to greet her).
I peered out the window of Gilly’s room as I worked on my computer and noticed a car pull up. I smiled at Gilly as snacked on fruit and informed him that Danielle, the male preposer would be entering soon to bathe him (the spell check won’t accept this word in English or French, but I was told that this is the name of the person who takes care of bathing and what not). My phone rang and sure enough it was Danielle, apologizing for being early and wondering if it would be O.K. to get started earlier. I welcomed the possibility; he said he’d be in momentarily as he had some work to attend to in his car. I know that deal; my car was my second (or should I say third) office until Yaron became licensed.
Danielle showed me many tricks for lifting and transferring Gilly. He taught me to raise the bed higher (the electronic controls were on backwards). He provided more gizmos and gadgets and taught me many new things. He went over the list of what a preposer could potentially do for us and suggested I think about adding on services. He explained that a visit usually takes 45 minutes, but if more tasks are required, the office will allow 1 ½ hours 3 times a week. Sadly, he will not be the one to come on a regular basis, because he does not cover this region normally, but the other person who will take over will also be a male. I am thrilled. I found that Gilly was more responsive to Danielle than he is to the female caregivers when they try to bathe him. I fully understand how he feels. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of males in this field, so we have to take what we can get.
Brad called to tell me that the caregiver (a woman named Raquel who has palliative care experience) will come tomorrow for the first time, and this will continue 5 days a week. I look forward to meeting her tomorrow and building a relationship with her. At least I will be home to get to know her this time, as opposed to running off to work with a stranger caring for my husband. I will take advantage of her being here by going out, but not tomorrow.
The day was busier than I thought it would be. Tamara came by with Max to watch over Gilly while I went out for dinner. I could tell that she noticed a huge difference in the extent to which Gilly requires care now. It is difficult to swallow.
He slept away most of the day and evening. He is not in any discomfort, or so it seems, and he seems at peace, but it is heart breaking to watch him become weaker by the day.
We continue to look forward to Shabbat dinner this week. It is the first candle lighting. We will adorn our balcony with the large hannukia Gilly made last year with large metal pipes and light bulbs. He had a habit of designing different types of menorahs over the years. Some may remember the large one he made out of ice up north one winter holiday many moons ago. I have a marvelous picture of it; he wore a grin from ear to ear, as was another of his habits.
posted by Gilly at 12:16 AM
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