Happy New Year!

Thought I had better get in one more post before the year ends!  Have some time before heading down to Rose Bay to watch the Sydney fireworks, so here is one last post.

Dad is hanging in there.  We have noticed he has been quieter since his hospital visit a couple of months back.  Then again, some days are better than others.  He has been in bed for a few days, and when I visited him yesterday, he looked like old dad, and was quite coherent.  Today when I visited, I couldn't understand a word he was saying and he was a bit agitated.  Hmmm... not sure that I am writing anything new!

Stopping to smell the roses... out the front of dad's place.

We have had gorgeous summer weather here, and last week I took dad for an evening stroll to check out the neighbour's gardens.  I have vague memories of summer evening walks around the neighbourhood, and it was nice to relive some pleasant memories.  We stopped to listen to the birds singing... in Canada, dad would reminisce about Australian birds... very enjoyable to listen to them in real life.  With the struggles and stresses that go along with Parkinson's, we have to make a point to revisit the simple joys in life.

With that, I would like to thank everyone for their encouraging emails and thoughts extended this year; it is much appreciated.  Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2014.  - Donna-

Briefly...

I was late to visit dad yesterday... I like to visit him at dinnertime (5pm!) or earlier when he is alert.  It always feels much later, walking into the care home.  Walking in at 5.40 felt like 10pm!  Dad was alert, and taking it all in.  Maybe I say this all the time, but for the first time in a while, I really felt dad there.  It's hard to explain... but I was able to separate his frail body and his spirit and really felt him taking it all in, without the dementia haze.  Even though he couldn't talk to me, I talked to him like it was any old day.  It was such a good feeling to know that he was clear, and that he understood me.  Now that I have some more time, I am determined to get him out more just for a change of scenery.  I said as much to one of his nurses, and he commented that he must be a little bit bored in there.  So maybe I can do some blog posts of Adventures with Dad next!

Struggling to Communicate

Thoughts from 4am few days ago...

Life is a funny thing... indeed, I heard it described the other day as a series of obstacles you have to overcome.

We are all programmed to be positive in life. What happens when the situation you're in isn't very positive? For the rest of the world rushing around you, carrying on with their own set of obstacles, they don't want to hear about your own issues. You put on a smile and say everything is ok. Maybe you want to believe that yourself. Tired and frustrated with the situation.

We are struggling to understand dad these days. When words do come through, I can see he has not lost his sense of humour. Or his intelligence. Both are still evident, though it's getting so hard to comprehend him. He ends up frustrated and rolling his eyes and I feel like weeping.

This link came up in my Twitter feed the other day, and it was helpful in explaining how Parkinson's steals the voice.