New Found Respect

     I have a total New Found Respect for all you caregivers out there.  Even through I am a Tri-Vecta caregiver in that I care for my mom, co-care for my brother in-law and am also a caree to my lovely wife, I have seen all aspects of caregiving, or at least I thought I had.  A few months ago my wife and I found our military precision caregiving routine thrown into an upheaval.  We have our daily duties and times when we each care for Robert well that all changed when I was put into the ICU for a week and was not home to help with him.  So Trish had to take on “Everything” and ended up missing on her morning mocha (which I make each day) because she didn’t know how to operate the espresso machine.  Now even if Trish has to work late, she has always been home in time to get Roberts bed ready and help him with his end of day routine.  Well tonight she was unable to be home in time so the duties fell on my square, broad, shoulders.    

     Once Robert gets home from Day Program he starts with the restroom and then goes with all the tasks that are done there and if he needs cleaning up (normally he does) so be it.  When done he proceeds to the couch where he watches his favorite TV shows and works on his WordSearch Puzzles and will continue this routine until dinner time.  With Robert having the epilepsy and some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) this that may take you and I minutes will and does take Robert ten, fifteen minutes, so rushing things with him not only does not work but can and has brought on seizures.  Back to my story, so tonight Trish had a company meeting she had to be at and thought she would be back around 6-6:30pm, tonight was different and the meeting was running late so once the dogs “with their dinner” and  Robert was done eating his dinner of cheeseburger, fry’s, applesauce and a Oreo cookie, OK your right I went to McDonald’s, except for the latter two, I decided to get his bed ready, get him changed and cleaned up and into bed I was spent and Trish did this for a week when I was in ICU?  Don’t forget she also took care of the morning routine, the above routine, feeding of the dogs, laundry, etc, etc all by herself and she came to the hospital everyday for hours only to leave to be home when Robert returned from day program and she did this was FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK!  

       After doing 1/2 of the morning routine and the entire evening routine just once,  I need to just say, I have a New Found Respect for all caregivers, co-caregivers and   anyone taking care of a loved one, family friend, friend, or other.  The days can be long, the pay short, the gratitude minimal at times, but from one caregiver, co-               caregiver, caree, Thank You each and everyone for everything you do for your caree’s, you are all true heroes.  And to Trish,  I know you say we don’t have to and that     it’s something families do for each other, but personally, I feel I do need to say it as often as I can, Thank you for everything you do for me and Robert, you are our           hero.