buckifan said:
buckifan said:Captain,
Your friend's family is really in for some tough times with altzheimer's. They call it "the long goodbye" for a reason. We lost my BELOVED grandfather a year ago this past Christmas day (of all days). He had battled altzheimer's for about 5 years, and the last two and a half years were pretty grim. It tore my heart out to see him not recognize me. We had the very good fortune of growing up within walking distance to my grandparent's house, and my grandmother was our caregiver, as both of my parents worked full time. My parents also had VERY active social lives, and we kids spent the night at my grandparent's house constantly. I've always thought of my grandparents as my PARENTS! As my grandpa progressed with the disease, he didn't know any of us, yet every time Kylie came over, he got the bigget smile on his face, and loved to give her kisses. He didn't know her name, he would just say "that's my girl!" Well, Kylie happens to look like MY TWIN as a child, so we believe he may have thought Kylie was me.
The most important thing you can do is PRAY for your friend's family. Then offer help in any way you can. My grandma was very private when my grandpa was sick, so if they are also, respect that. But, my grandma cared for my grandpa 24/7 until the day he died, so we would come over whenever possible to stay with him and give my grandma some freedom to go shopping, get her hair done or whatever. I hated seeing grandpa sick, but I wouldn't trade the memories I have of helping care for him FOR ANYTHING. I helped feed him, shave him, dress him, and yes, even change his "diapers" WITH TOTAL LOVE! He cared for me and my brother and sister the same way all of our lives, and it was my pleasure to care for him in his old age. And my kids learned a valuable lesson too. They learned that elderly, sick & disabled people are still presious lives, and need to be treated with dignity. Kylie always tells me she will take care of me when I'm old.
Sorry if this post was a downer, but I do love talking about my grandpa!
SO that implies we have about 10 silent lurkers out there without adjusting for errors (I know of at least one in catagory 1) and so on.
captaincrash said:Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts...
I was the primary caregiver for my mother when she developed multiple myeloma (a form of cancer in the circulatory system). It was a really difficult journey ... (I just erased everything I was going to write as it was a bit "too much"). But it suffices to say that my sacrifices along with everyone elses' contributions gained us an obvious improvement in survival and quality of life for most of the time. And for a while it was just a huge struggle. I do not look forward to whats to come... and I will be involved personally with this matter. The person with AD is only about 51... and that's very ... unfortunate given the rarity at such an early time. It brings back a mixture of feelings on what love and family should mean in difficult times. Your prayers and supportive thoughts are sincerely appreciated... my family is a quietly spiritual clan and as such, our prays for all of you will include heart felt thanks for your prayers, kind thoughts and pixie dust sprinkles.
I am trying to keep this brief in expressing subtling concluding .... thanks for your replies. This is after all a Disney Halloween thread for the MOST over the TOP psychotic wanna be sorts... right? And I could be singled out raising an off topic conversation by the monitors. <muted chuckles>
So... with that... I'm in the learning process right now. Also, I'm still hugely mixed in feelings. It's difficult to think about beyond a certain point yet I understand what's involved. Oh well...
So... sorry about the somber things I've stirred ...
Has anyone noticed.....[/COLOR]
... that we are up to 45 people responding on the poll? However we have only about 35 posting to the thread. SO that implies we have about 10 silent lurkers out there without adjusting for errors (I know of at least one in catagory 1) and so on.
As such it seems reasonable to offer a warm invitation to any who ARE lurking silently who are booked on our sailing ... who may or may not have voted above.
Also, with 8 months to go we seem to have roughly 5-6% of the ships passenger compliment represented here. I imagine that number can only go up (a lot) as more DIS enthusiasts discover us here!
OK... gotta go get more vittles for my 2 year old. She had 2 huge diaper "loads" in the last 30 minutes and it seems she's noticed her tummy has a slight vacume as opposed to the "stuffed feeling" she had 45 minutes ago. Plus I gotta git my lunch too. And today is an unusally nice day out - so I should run errands (and get some work done) before too much of the day light has been lost.
Thanks again.... if anyone has anything on AD to add - it is certainly welcome either in public here or as a private message. Whatever you feel is appropriate.
Warmest regards to all....
Princess Olivia said:
buckifan said:Captain,
Your friend's family is really in for some tough times with altzheimer's. They call it "the long goodbye" for a reason. ...... As my grandpa progressed with the disease, he didn't know any of us, yet every time Kylie came over, he got the bigget smile on his face, and loved to give her kisses. He didn't know her name, he would just say "that's my girl!" Well, Kylie happens to look like MY TWIN as a child, so we believe he may have thought Kylie was me.
The most important thing you can do is PRAY for your friend's family. Then offer help in any way you can. My grandma was very private when my grandpa was sick, so if they are also, respect that. ..... I hated seeing grandpa sick, but I wouldn't trade the memories I have of helping care for him FOR ANYTHING. I helped feed him, shave him, dress him, and yes, even change his "diapers" WITH TOTAL LOVE! He cared for me and my brother and sister the same way all of our lives, and it was my pleasure to care for him in his old age. And my kids learned a valuable lesson too. They learned that elderly, sick & disabled people are still presious lives, and need to be treated with dignity. Kylie always tells me she will take care of me when I'm old.
Sorry if this post was a downer, but I do love talking about my grandpa!
missyoh8 said:
missyoh8 said:
Terri said:
Tluvs2talk said:Just wanted to hello to everyone
Crash- I hope you have a great cruise. Our first cruise was on the carnival Sensation. We just sailed on Carnival again January 8th on the Miracle. BIG DIFFERENCE. Hope you have a wonderful time.
Kristen-I know you are glad to finally have time to breathe after all the Birthday plans.
missyoh8- WELCOME
Tonight is Survivor!!!!
Teri
kritter said:
missyoh8 said:OMG how do you know Jen? Just from here? Ask her she will tell you, we had a HOOT. Yes we were on the same cruise.
Yes, apparently I go by several names. I must have just added Missyoh9
Look for my sister Maryoh8 to join at some point as well.
Have a great day.
Missy
missyoh8 said:OMG how do you know Jen? Just from here? Ask her she will tell you, we had a HOOT. Yes we were on the same cruise.
Yes, apparently I go by several names. I must have just added Missyoh9
Look for my sister Maryoh8 to join at some point as well.
Have a great day.
Missy
