Today is my sister-in-laws 62nd birthday. My husband said he would call her but I don't think he will. The last call a couple months ago she could not carry on a conversation and probably did not really know who he was. She is 2 1/2 years younger than him and was diagnosed in 2005 - he was diagnosed in 2008. I am thinking he is afraid to find out how bad she is doing. It is hard on him.
As for the last week and a half: the oven was getting too hot and burning pizza. Didn't think much of it. Then the microwave died - totally dead, nothing works. Turned the breaker off and a few days later hb turned it on and it worked. I was at work and he came in so happy he had fixed it! A couple days later it died - again.
Then last Thursday he came into the office saying the oven would not work - he couldn't get the pilot light to light. I came an lit it - he could not remember where it was. Friday, he comes in again saying he can't get it lit. Manager was there again, so I come home and light it. An hour later he comes in saying the oven is on but his dinner is not cooking. I come home to check and yes, the oven is lit but not hot. I buy him TV dinners for when I work. I have told him to fix a sandwich but his routine is TV dinners so that is what he wants. Saturday I mixed up tuna for him and he remembered that.
I have figured out it is probably the thermostat for the oven that is bad. It does not look hard to change, just don't like disconnecting gas and hooking it back up (have to as the thermostat includes all the oven controls). The microwave - well after 8 years of searching we finally found out where the plug for it is hidden. Power to the plug. I searched online and found out how to open the front of the microwave without removing it - it is an over the counter mircowave/convection oven that includes the exhaust for the stove top, weight about 100 pounds.
Now to figure which to fix since I don't have the money. To fix the microwave - it is covered by extended warranty with a deductible which if fixed hopefully won't cost more than that. If it can't be fixed then I would go for a replacement. Or remove it and build a cabinet for a cheap one but that leaves me with no exhaust fan for the stove - which I rarely use the fan. The oven would probably be the cheapest to fix but we use the microwave much more than the oven.
What this has shown me: how dependent he is on me. Last summer when I worked he was able to think and figure out what to fix. If this had happened last summer he would have fixed a sandwich no problem. This year I see the changes so maybe working is good for that. It also shows me that a job he won't have access to me may not work out. I was going to look for a few hours work somewhere for pay to help out.
As it is he is in the office every 15 - 30 minutes asking if I need anything even though I tell him I take a drink and snack with me. The only time he takes longer is if there is baseball or hockey on TV. Where we don't have DISH anymore, just the cable in the park, there are not the channels he likes. I thought maybe his buddy that lived here but moved elsewhere right after we arrived with his girlfriend would be coming back since they broke up, but the rent is cheaper where he is, so he is staying there. :-(
It has poured in April - hope May is better. But, I know it will be costly cause one of them has to get fixed. Which one? Wish I knew a handyman that would volunteer to help. Oh well. The 'Leisure Seeker' is looking better all the time.
Charlotte have thought of checking Craig's lisi, or your local penny saver, some great values can be found wiyh used applicancess from people moving , breaking up, or leaving college dorms this time of year Alnother value priced place the dented abd ding appliance outet in your area. Most denteded or dinged appliances sell for 25% of new price. The used or cosmetically no perfect may allow you to buy both
I am wondering if you should have the gas to the oven turned off when you aren't home. If he is having problems lighting the pilot light I wonder if this is a disaster just waiting to happen. I have visions of either coming home to a house full of gas, or no house. I think that turning the gas back on after having it off is not a simple matter. I'm glad when we bought our house L insisted on a electric oven instead of a gas one.
So I would vote for doing something about the microwave and disabling the oven (even if just by removing the controls). but even then a microwave can burn down the house, I've read stories, perhaps here, of people setting the microwave to run for 8 hours.
Charlotte these sites showed up on the Internet as offering new and used parts specific to RV's, Motorhomes. Hopefully you can find what you're looking for at the price you want to pay. If you know the brand/model part numbers and price you want to pay I'd be happy to do a search for you. Couldn't agree with Paulc more... if you had to pick the most potential for danger you had the most dangers appliances go down at the same time.d