| Author | |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2008 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
My aunt, who has cerebral palsy, is now in her late 60's. This weekend she was found wandering the streets of L.A., late at night, pushing her wheelchair. My parents are now taking care of her at home...but she's almost impossible to care for. She needs 24/7 care, in a locked facility, as she keeps trying to get out late at night. She's belligerent, seems to be having arguments with people who aren't there, etc. (She's on some meds already, but it is very hard to diagnose someone with CP who's hard to understand, classic ODD and impossible to reason with now that she's turned this corner...and, yes, we have a huge family history of Alzheimer's.)
Please pray that the wheels of California socialized medicine for the disabled turn quickly (unlike their normal snail's pace). My mom is recovering from hip surgery, my dad still works, and caring for my aunt is more than they can handle without respite help.
Also, please pray that my extended family realizes that this situation is permanent, and that my aunt will need to be moved to a place where she has good, professional care. This will cost money.
Finally, please pray for my parents. They have coordinated my aunt's care for decades and are now stuck locking her in at night...and someone has to be home all the time...and my mom is telling me not to come out there because she won't have time to enjoy her grandchildren if we come now...but she needs help now, not later...you get the idea.
Personally, I feel like I should jump on a plane. It is very, very hard to wait to see if I could be of more help later.
I thank you...and I'd appreciate learning about saints who are patrons of mental/emotional illnesses, as I think I need to ask them for help right away.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
hylabrook1
Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5980
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2008 at 6:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Nancy -
Praying for everyone in your family. God bless your parents for all their years of loving care for your aunt.
Peace,
Nancy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Jordan
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 01 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 137
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 12:06am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I can imagine how difficult this must be. I will keep your family in my prayers.
__________________
Jordan
Cheerios & Fingerpaints
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
shartlesville
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 21 2006
Location: New Mexico
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 904
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 12:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying!
Blessings,
Krisann
__________________
Krisann
DH Cris;
DC John, Elizabeth, Lilyann ^i^, Emily, Kate, Julia, Sam, & Jack;
DGC Kira, Auston, Travis, & Sarah.
My Blog: Isla del Esperanza
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 12:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Saint Dymphna! Pray for us!
I am praying for all of them, Nancy.
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 5:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh Nancy, what a difficult situation! We will be praying for you family ...
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
tracym
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 05 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 214
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 5:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for everyone involved.
__________________
Tracy M- mom to Allen 12, Laura 9, Joeseph 7, and Anthony 4
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Ruth
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 04 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5007
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 6:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for your intentions, Nancy.
__________________
Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Carole N.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4484
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 7:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying, Nancy. What a difficult situation.
__________________
Carole ... in Wales
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KellyJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 29 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 598
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2008 at 8:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying!
__________________
KellyJ
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Update 1/11:
The doctor's appointment was inconclusive, which means the doctor has adjusted my aunt's medications with the thought that her bizarre behavior is a reaction to one of the things she takes. He is referring her to a psychologist for an Alzheimer's eval. (Please note...she could never count backward by 9's, name whale species or do anything else considered "normal" before, so there is no way for traditional tests to determine dementia/Alzheimer's. She has CP and mental retardation.)
For my mom, this means at least two more weeks of endlessly-screaming, disabled, escape-artist aunt who hears voices all the time. My dad is not helping (another problem, perhaps depression). We truly need divine assistance. Mom says she doesn't want me or my brother to come and help. For me, this is frustrating beyond belief.
If you wouldn't mind, could you please ask Pope John Paul II to intercede for my mom and aunt? Maria B. posted this lovely prayer in another thread on this forum, and it has brought me great comfort:
Novena Prayer for the Canonization of JPII:
O Blessed Trinity, we thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen
Thank you.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: Jan 12 2008 at 6:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Nancy, I will join you in this prayer ...
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
hylabrook1
Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5980
|
| Posted: Jan 12 2008 at 9:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I will certainly pray with you all through John Paul II's intercession.
Peace,
Nancy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 12 2008 at 10:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying with you, nancy. I am so sorry.
I wonder if a little rescue remedy could help? I know it is a small thing...but maybe worth trying.
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Jan 14 2008 at 4:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying, Nancy.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Jan 14 2008 at 7:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Joining you Nancy, in asking for John Paul II's intercession with this heartbreaking situation!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lara Sauer
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 15 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 679
|
| Posted: Jan 14 2008 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for your family.
__________________
You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the girl!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Jan 14 2008 at 7:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Update 1/14: The powers that be have authorized four weeks of 24/7 care (although they don't seem interested in complying with state law - I can't believe how slipshod these folks are). This is supposed to give my parents time to get a diagnosis.
Please pray that the HMO appointment system can actually work quickly.
Also, please pray that, if the diagnosis is a long-term condition, such as Alzheimer's, that we will be able to find somewhere for my aunt to live, where she will receive appropriate care. Apparently the U.S. government believes there are only 9,000 people in the whole country with both Alzheimer's and developmental disabilities...so there are literally no mechanisms in place to care for these people. 
Thank you...knowing that my mom and aunt are in your prayers is a huge, huge comfort to me.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
|
| Posted: Jan 14 2008 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Nancy, your intentions here have been in my prayers through the intercession of Pope John Paul II.
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 12:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hugs, Nancy.......and prayers.
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: For my aunt and my mom - 1/14 update
