[Magdalen] Rant

[Molly Wolf]

Chilton Knudsen told me this:  after my dad had a brain bleed (equivalent to stroke) and had lost most of his cognitive and physical function, he still turned back into a priest when, at the end of a visit to this hospital bed, she asked him for a blessing. That part of him went too deep to be damaged.

Molly

The man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -- Mark Twain

> On Feb 25, 2015, at 10:56 AM, Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My dad was always very polite and courteous.  He remained that way to the end when he was in the St. Anne's Veterans Hospital . Despite living in the fog of Alzheimer's he was always spolite and pleasant, thanking people for whatever came his way.
> 
> Marion, a pilgrim    ... today my sail I lift ....
>> On 2/25/2015 10:20 AM, Jay Weigel wrote:
>> Mostly for Allan, but this may refer to Marcy too.....my mother used to say
>> that when people lose it, "they just become more like themselves." Allan,
>> it sounds like this is true of Camille, who you describe as "always a
>> pleasant person." It was certainly true of my mother, who was always a
>> pleasant and lovable person, right up to her death, even when she could no
>> longer speak or walk. It was also true of my dad, who was and exacting and
>> sometimes difficult perfectionist.
>> 
>> Jim, does the hospice supply aides? My former DIL used to be an aide with a
>> hospice and they were trained to deal with the sort of situation you
>> describe. And it certainly sounds like Marcy is in the denial stage.
>> Bargaining will be next, and that's a little easier, if more painful.....
>> 
>> On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 9:55 AM, James Handsfield <jhandsfield at att.net>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I thank everyone for their warm comments and prayers.  As I think of it
>>> this morning, I’m pretty sure Marcy is still in the denial stage of grief.
>>> She just hasn’t accepted that she cannot do the things she wants to do,
>>> even though she clearly cannot do them.
>>> 
>>> Responding to a few of the comments:
>>> 
>>> Sally, yes, some PALS (persons with ALS) do experience dementia with the
>>> disease, but it’s only 10% - 15%.  Marcy may be in that group.
>>> 
>>> Allan, I a so sorry for your situation.  You and Camille have my prayers
>>> as well.
>>> 
>>> I’ll call CarePlus today and see if I can upgrade the caregivers to those
>>> who can handle Marcy’s hostility better.  If they can’t I’ll go to the
>>> hospice people and see what they recommend.
>>> 
>>> Part of the issue is that as Marcy’s health declines, she starts
>>> channeling her mother, who was the neediest, most insecure person I’ve ever
>>> met (Marcy’s sister is close behind - she personifies passive aggressive).
>>> 
>>> Thanks again for listening and for your prayers.
>>> 
>>> -----------------
>>> Thinking one can behave their way into heaven is an insult to the very
>>> foundation of salvation.
>>> 
>>> Jim Handsfield
>>> jhandsfield at att.net
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>