Stories from Caregivers: Glenn from TEXAS
TX
Glenn
FROM TEXAS
I am a retired Electronics Engineer and I take care of my wife, Aggie. She likes to go by Aggie, but her real name is Agnes. Aggie had a stroke back on July 9, 1997. She spent time at different facilities, but I finally got her home in the spring of 1998 and have been taking care of her ever since. She does not have the use of her arms and legs, at least not for anything functional. I am in one picture that was taken a few years ago, and the ladies in the other pictures are her niece and sister, who live back in New England. They came to Texas to visit this past spring. Aggie has kidney stone surgery coming up at the end of this month. Aggie had different caregivers when I was working to help out while i was at work. We will be celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary this November. We do fairly well with the day to day expenses, but it is the big items that are not covered by insurance that we worry about. Medicare does pay for her wheelchair, but we get no help with providing her a handicapped van. The one we use now is on on it's last legs. The bed she has also needs to be replaced soon along with the air flow mattress she uses. We are fortunate to have an excellent Primary Care Physician who works with us. I enjoy getting out with Aggie, but the thing I find exhausting is the great effort that is required to get her the equipment she needs. Current i am trying to get her smaller oxygen canisters, so we can actually go somewhere together. The ones provided are large and difficult to drag along behind the wheelchair. Our Doc is helping with this. I also am in need for people to help sit with Aggie so I can run errands. We used to have lots of help back when Aggie first had her stroke, but only have a few that help now when they can. I try to do more on-line now, unfortunately not everything can be done on-line.. Aggie and i love each other very much and will find a way to make things happen, but iI agree that there needs to be more help and support available for the handicapped and their caregivers. Glenn
