I am feeling especially emo at the moment.
So I guess my grandpa has been getting progressively worse. Last friday my cousin had to send him to the emergency room when he was unresponsive. She tried the sternum rub, shouting, everything she could to wake him up and he just wouldn't.
He's awake now, but even more confused than he used to be. He's been screaming and shouting all night, and experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations. Yesterday it was spiders all over the walls, today kittens in the corner. Six to be exact.
He has forgotten he can no longer walk... eventhough he hasn't been able to do so for the past ten years or so. So he's been trying to stand.. and get to the invisible kittens. I'm just hoping he doesn't fall.
Anyway, all his symptoms sounded like he had a TIA, but they've lasted a lot longer than 24 hours so it is sounding more and more like he's had a full blown stroke.
They're going to be placing him into a nursing home for observation, but who knows if he'll ever be able to go home again. I wish he didn't live in NC, I can't even afford to go and see him, and see if the place he's staying is at all good.
I thought news like this would be easier to take seeing as how I work with stroke victims/dementia patients all the time, but it's still breaking my heart. He was such a big, tough guy. Restoring old cars and building things all the time. It's just never really hit home before, and now it has. Like a fucking freight train.
So I guess my grandpa has been getting progressively worse. Last friday my cousin had to send him to the emergency room when he was unresponsive. She tried the sternum rub, shouting, everything she could to wake him up and he just wouldn't.
He's awake now, but even more confused than he used to be. He's been screaming and shouting all night, and experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations. Yesterday it was spiders all over the walls, today kittens in the corner. Six to be exact.
He has forgotten he can no longer walk... eventhough he hasn't been able to do so for the past ten years or so. So he's been trying to stand.. and get to the invisible kittens. I'm just hoping he doesn't fall.
Anyway, all his symptoms sounded like he had a TIA, but they've lasted a lot longer than 24 hours so it is sounding more and more like he's had a full blown stroke.
They're going to be placing him into a nursing home for observation, but who knows if he'll ever be able to go home again. I wish he didn't live in NC, I can't even afford to go and see him, and see if the place he's staying is at all good.
I thought news like this would be easier to take seeing as how I work with stroke victims/dementia patients all the time, but it's still breaking my heart. He was such a big, tough guy. Restoring old cars and building things all the time. It's just never really hit home before, and now it has. Like a fucking freight train.
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greaser:
I certainly can sympathize. I'm the primary caregiver for my grandmother, who sufferes from Alzheimer's disease. I spend a few hours at her house every day taking care of things so that we don't have to put her into a nursing home. Luckily she's been doing well lately, but she's had times when she talked to people who have been dead for years, etc.. Sorry I can't help, except to offer my sympathy 
bleeder:
Sorry to hear. I really hope you are feeling better.