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primary caregiver

Last post Mon, Jan 28 2008 4:07 AM by JonathanBlake. 3 replies.

• becky t

  Posts: 14

  • primary caregiver
  • Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007 11:42 AM

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  • I am the primary caregiver to my 25 yo son that has a C6 spinal cord injury. I work M-F with special ed kids. My oldest son gets Carlo dressed and takes him to college. This is his 3rd yr. He is going to be a rehab counselor. Hopefully he will be able to get a good job and i won't have to work as hard. Being a caregiver is very trying, We have learned to make jokes to get along as well as possible. We spend alot of time together. I recently got custody of my 6 month old grandaughter as well. It makes it rough when they both want something at the same time. My biggest problem is not getting enough sleep. Having time to do things like cutting my toenails and taking a shower is hard to find. I try to look on the bright side,it could always be worse. When I see mothers burying their children I realize how lucky I am!

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• Lola

  Posts: 142

  • Re: primary caregiver
  • Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007 1:10 PM

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  • kudos to you, becky!

     

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  • "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" ~ e. burker
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• Liesl

  Posts: 2,205

  • Re: primary caregiver
  • Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2007 3:14 PM

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  • You're an angel!

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  • "I believe everything out of the common. The only thing to distrust is the normal."
    John Buchan
    

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• JonathanBlake

  Posts: 4

  • Re: primary caregiver
  • Posted: Mon, Jan 28 2008 4:07 AM

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  • Dear Becky,

    My wife is w/c mobile with Cerebral Palsy and we host her mother as a permanent houseguest who is w/c mobile with Ataxia. I'm able-bodied and therefore the primary caregiver for both of them. My wife has the stones of a Brama Bull, and has gone out into the community and met with many of our neighbors. Amazingly, three of them are now back-up drivers for us. They'll chase after a bottle of laxative or gallon of milk when I can't get away or when I'm at work. One even takes my "wives" to appointments. By utilizing each of these resources sparingly, I get time to myself for the things I need. I live near my mother and both my grown children. Three more resources who are there for me because they love me and we include them in our lives. With each of these resources, it's a one-hand-washes-the-other mutual support program, but it has kept me from working myself into an early grave over the last 13 years. Get your son out and meeting the neighbors. Ask for their help. You'd be amazed how many people will say yes. Good luck. God Bless you both. Be good to yourself when you can.

    Jonathan

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