Comments on: TV Hospital versus Real life hospital

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:04:53 +0000

I feel for you Daphne, I really do. My grandmother has dementia…. we, unfortunately live 3,000 miles away. (She lives about 5 minutes from my aunt) We were there with Sarah visiting in August. I think she put together that Sarah was my daughter, sort of, but not that Sarah has any relation to HER at all…. and that was on a good day…. It just sucks. And I’m sorry.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:17:01 +0000

thanks Stanz, love that kind of witty writing. Love all the F bombs too. xo to you all–Daphne

By: stanz

stanz — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:03:08 +0000

Been there – dementia just sucks. As do hospitals, I much prefer the soap opera version. Read this week’s “Cursing Mommy” on healthcare in the New Yorket to cheer up. Or just laugh out loud.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2010/04/26/100426sh_shouts_frazier

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:20:22 +0000

Oh, man, sorry you have to go through this. I hope you will still see your real dad through the dementia sometimes. Thank you for sharing this with us, all the best to your dad and hang on in there Daphne!

By: Maegan

Maegan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:39:01 +0000

My mother’s aunt had no children…so she & her siblings took over her care when she started wandering the neighborhood in her fancy 1960s nightgowns & looking for her husband (who had been dead over 25 years at that point).

Dementia runs in our family. Its more like “when” than “if”. I remember just doing a lot of smiling & nodding at Aunt Pat when we visited. I guess the upside…if you can even call it that…is that by the time the end comes, they don’t have any idea.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:24:47 +0000

OH, love you guys. Thanks for such nice commets. Hate it that it’s a club a lot of us are in. Let me know how the support group is Judy. I thought of that a couple of years ago, and then it got better and then I don’t know.

Just to put in perspective… when my dad first hit the skids I was telling an old friend about it and she said, “well, I’m sorry, but can’t relate as my dad took off when I was 2 and killed himself while I was in college.” Point taken. Least I had many good years with my old man. But, still..

By: Heather @ Brace Yourselves

Heather @ Brace Yourselves — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:07:49 +0000

Oh Daphne, hugs to you honey. I’m so sorry that you are dealing with this right now. I am sure it is heart breakingly painful. Praying for you and your dad!

By: Judy

Judy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:34:03 +0000

So sorry for your dad, and for you and your family. My mom is on about the fourth step down the dementia terrace. Wonder how many steps there are? Attending my first “support group” tomorrow night to see how others deal with this, so thanks for the post.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:20:03 +0000

Hey Daphne,
Thanks for the laugh and for the story. My Father too has turned a health corner and it isn’t looking good. He’s been battling brain cancer for about 4 years. It’s been heart breaking to watch the once very active guy deteriorate.
The amusing part of haunting hospitals is when you realize that your Dad’s doctor is a lot younger than yourself. You’re thinking “Oh honey bunny, I have shoes older than you!”

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:07:01 +0000

Oh, Daphne, I wish I were there to give you a good, long hug.

It is sad. Dementia is sad. My mother has Alzheimer’s and I cant’ bear to watch it.

She was so strong and independent and unstoppable.

It is really like a slow death.

I’m sorry for your heart, today, honey…

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:59:05 +0000

I think you’re amazing!

And going to the hospital, especially the ER is miserable. It always feels like the doctors have no urgency and that things move at a snails pace. If you need anyone to kick some doctor ass, my mom is fantastic at it. She’s a critical care nurse, and if a doctor isn’t doing their job or educating the patient enough beats them to a pulp… not really, she just gives them a lot of hell until they fix the problem.

Hang in there. I can’t imagine the stress and heartbreak.