Tag: Marty

Memorial Day Parade in Hampden

LIFE: There are very few advantages to having a house a foot and a half from Main Street. In fact, according to a recent survey we did, our porch is not even on our property. The porch does give us a reviewing stand for the Town of Hampden Memorial Day Parade — our big event. The parade always departs the Catholic church parking… Read more →

Woody Guthrie at Greystone

MUSIC: This is an interesting short film about Woody Guthrie’s years with Huntington’s Disease, when he was a patient at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey. He was picked up by the police and misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia. A similar diagnosis was given to Kathy’s mom in Florida, but at least in Woody’s case they figured out it was… Read more →

and Two Steps Back

CAREGIVING:  It’s Friday night, and I finally can sit and try to get caught up a bit. Kathy is asleep — breathing well with the occasional cough. Marty is on his couch. I’m on mine. It is thundering out and pouring rain. One of the main reasons I feel a need to write this stuff down is that time flies – whether you… Read more →

Weekend, Weakened, Weak end

CAREGIVING:  Thursday was forgettable, but in a good way. I can’t remember any major problems at least. Dilcia got confused about what day it was and forgot to come. I had planned to run to Stop & Shop to pick up Kathy’s refill of the Scopolamine patches but it could wait until Friday. I placed an order with Peapod so that Kathy would… Read more →

Wednesday: The Cavalry Returns

CAREGIVING: Whattaday. Wednesday is usually the day that Hope comes in the morning and stays for over four hours. This gives her more time to give Kathy a shower and then gives me time to get away. I was hoping to go shopping at Aldi’s to stock up on stuff. Things got off to a rocky start. But they ended… Read more →

Hospice? Not so fast after all

CAREGIVING: Tuesday had been an emotional ride, what with Erica saying it was probably hospice-time; and realizing that Kathy was making her own decisions quite well. On Wednesday Hope came to give Kathy her shower and stay with her. Monday had been too tough for Kathy so she gave her a sponge bath.She really was due for a full shower.… Read more →

New wheels

CAREGIVING: On Thursday Bob our new physical therapist came with a wheelchair expert named John to assess and hopefully get us a new chair for Kathy. The idea will be to convince Medicare, MassHealth (Medicaid) and probably Health New England (her Medicare Advantage plan) that it is a necessary piece of equipment due to her Huntington’s Disease. Best case is… Read more →