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| Bette Davis as Margo Channing in "All About Eve" |
Bill's hospice healthcare nurse made her weekly visit yesterday. We had a long talk.
Good news and (of course) bad news.
The good news is that Bill's leg wound has completely healed. No more daily cleaning of his leg wound and applying new dressing. The twice a day egg custards that I am feeding to Bill obviously has greatly helped his healing process.
The bad news is that Bill is showing signs of early dementia. He's having trouble looking for words. Common every day words. This frustrates him as well as me. Having a conversation with Bill is gradually getting more difficult. He will ask me a question and when I give him an answer he's forgotten he's asked me a question. At first this was funny but it's not funny anymore. Again, we'll manage the best we can. I try to put this latest development in perspective. Again, it could be worse. For instance I finally was able to get in contact with my longtime friend Lar (since 3rd grade). Larry was diagnosed with ALS over seven years ago. His decline has been gradual over the years but he was still able to get around. No more. He can no longer walk. He is totally bed bound. That means he is totally dependent on nursing care which he has at his home. Of course I asked him "How do you go to the bathroom?"You know the answer, he goes in his Depends. Then is nurse has to change him and clean him up. Full cycle here from baby to old age. Thank goodness Bill isn't THERE yet. I'm not sure if I can care for him that much. Bill can still manage to go to the bathroom on his own. But then Bill has trouble swallowing which Larry doesn't. Bill also is blind whereas Larry's vision is fine. I don't know which is worse. And me? I have trouble walking. I hope I can stay healthy enough, long enough to care for Bill until he make his final exit.
As Bette Davis famously said "Getting old isn't for sissies!"
Bette Davis - at the end of her life