LIFE: When you live in an old drafty house you never know who’s going to drop in for a visit. We have had visits by mice; and flying squirrels. If our walls were glass or clear plastic, it would look like a huge ant farm in the walls. Last week we had the annual October infestation of Asian lady beetles. When… Read more →
Tag: health care
Project: Man-cave
LIFE: I have always joked about my working arrangements. I have posted on Facebook that “Due to the snow emergency, Lehndorff Design will be closing early.” As a self-employed graphic designer, my hours can be long but the commute is easy. With caregiving I need to keep even closer. It has been months since I used my “office” upstairs. My latest ongoing project: to… Read more →
Day One: Roster Changes
Wednesday, the primary care team came from NaviCare, Kathy’s new health plan. (See my previous post about it). It was day one of coverage. Miguel is our Navigator (commercial pun intended). He will be the main contact: getting any approvals for this and that, and he will make Kathy’s first appointment with her new doctor. He will get any needed authorizations for ambulance rides to her doctor and dentist appointments. And… Read more →
Update: Club meds
CAREGIVING: Sorry I’ve been scarce lately. Some friends have contacted me worried – expecting the worst – because I haven’t been blogging lately. Actually things with Kathy have been OK. There are some rough moments for sure, but overall she seems stable and content. I’ve been adjusting the timing of her meds, so she isn’t quite as sleepy during the day. One of her meds, a… Read more →
Giving away memories
LIFE: Thursday I started going through some of Kathy’s clothes and things. I was trying to decide what to keep and what to give away. Taking care of someone with Huntington’s or any terminal disease is a long goodbye process. You need to give yourself time to breathe and time to grieve and I’d rather do it a little bit at a time. I… Read more →
Getting back to normal (sort off)
CAREGIVING: Yesterday Christina from Baystate VNA came for her weekly check on Kathy and to discharge her. Basically that means that Kathy’s condition after the hospital stay has stabilized. Her blood pressure and Oxygen levels are as good as new. I’m managing her feeding tube OK and keeping her throat free of mucus. Her diaper rash is getting better. And we have help… Read more →
Gratitude to my friends
CAREGIVING & MUSIC: I wish I could reach out and give a virtual hug to everyone who is supporting us during our time with Huntington’s Disease. We had a very very successful benefit concert in Amherst thanks to the organizational efforts of Mike and Chris Orlen. Volunteers and donors from all over the Pioneer Valley pitched in to help. I… Read more →