Alzheimer's Disease is a constant surprise. I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com, and read today's blog. Has anyone else had a simple experience like mine they would like to share with us?
Interesting blog today. Now that my husband doesn't recognize me any longer, I cherish those brief moments when his eyes light up and he 'sees me'. Yesterday I brought our two dogs to the ALF to visit him and he 'saw' me and the dogs for a brief moment, and then it was gone.
When I read Joan's blog about her incident of reconnection with Sid I recalled a time several years ago in 2003 when Earnie was still home but unable to communicate verbally much and around level 5 in Alzheimer's scale of functioning. One day, I became very dispondent and went into o ur bedroom to lie on t he bed and cry....I became aware of my sweetheart laying down next to me. He began stroking my back , rubbing me caressingly for approximately 30 minutes. It was a precious 30 minutes of deep love and affection which for awhile was a balm to my soul. We connected at a level which transcended that devil Alzheimers disease for a merciful short interlude which I hold deep in my memory...
Joan, I enjoyed your blog, such a good moment! And one that hopefully can be repeated every day.
Due to the lack of conversation during meals I find myself turning to other resources, and while eating I often look through a magazine or do a puzzle that I can (just to make some show of conversation) ask dh to help me with. It sometimes (rarely but sometimes) occurs that he finds an answer.
One thing we enjoy together is having a bath. Now I am so thankful for the big round tub we had put in when we remodelled our garage into a downstairs bedroom + bath many years ago. For years we hardly used the bathtub, only on rare leisurely weekend mornings. Now it is a godsend, and a good moment together.
Charlie and I always loved listening to music together. He especially liked Floyd Cramer or Boots Randolph playing instrumental versions of familiar songs. Got a chance today to play a Boots CD that he got for Christmas. He was having one of the days where he would not open his eyes even though he was "awake". He ate every bite of his lunch with his eyes closed. After lunch I put on the CD. He never opened his eyes but he tapped his foot in time to the fast songs and when "I Can't Stop Loving You" came on, he reached for my hand and held it throughout the song. Enough to make my day.
My last experience came just four days before DH passed away. He was sitting at the table playing with a deck of cards. His ability to carry on a conversation had been gone for many months. I walked into the room and bent down to pick up the cards he had dropped and when I did he said "I love you more". That was always our response when the other one said I love you.