In a flash, I went from being a caring wife to a caregiver as my husband of 26 years suffered a massive stroke more than 800 miles away from home on a work-related trip. Everything in our lives changed in a moment… every single aspect of who we were as human beings stood still as if in a movie. As the initial hours and days went on, the vortex spinning out of control became clearer, darker and defined all at the same time, leaving me alone and contemplating what could possibly come next.
At the time of this writing, just over four years have passed, and I feel a passion to begin writing about what happens to lives when trauma hits home. I dedicate this blog to those caregivers who feel alone, isolated, frustrated and scared. You may be on the verge of giving up or financially don’t feel you can go forward, or maybe you don’t know where to turn for help or are afraid of asking for help in fear of being judged.
No matter what you’re feeling, I hope to bring to you a bit of knowledge, some encouragement and a smidgen of humor to help you navigate each day, one moment at a time. You are not alone and God’s Word says that you are not going through anything that isn’t common to man. So, rest assured that brighter days will come.
Moving Forward
As we move forward, you'll see additions like...
Vital resources with contact information
The Lord’s Page so you can ask our readers for prayers while also praying for others.
A place for moderated comments because you might have something to add that will help others. (We don’t lay claim to knowing everything).
When this happened to my family, organization went flying out the window. Literally, I would go from one end of the spectrum to the next, creating disorder along the way. Once I got tired of cleaning up my own messes, I put together a system where everyone was on the same page, care issues were being handled properly and appointments were never missed. I always knew when it was time to order supplies, get refills on prescriptions and call for transportation.
We are currently working on a project that we will be offering soon. You’ll be able to keep track of appointments, medications, information to give the doctors, purchasing lists and a whole lot more. If you would appreciate something that could help you avoid the messes that trauma can bring, get registered to receive a notice when they are ready.
I have gone through more than a person should, but I have learned so much that I can’t keep it all to myself. These articles come straight from my heart to yours and are based on my experiences, which I hope can help others to avoid some of the pitfalls I had to experience.
Keep in mind that what is true for me and my family might be different for you. We do encourage your participation, welcoming your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Is there good news? Absolutely! There is a light at the end of the tunnel so take a hold of my hand and walk this journey with me. We’re all better when we stand together.