Journal entry by cyril speltz —
LATEST UPDATE ON JOAN SPELTZ
Our last entry in CaringBridge was way back in 2017...
The Chemo regiment over 3 years ago seems to have taken good care of riding Joan completely of the ovarian cancer. However, the 3 powerful drugs used to rid the cancer left her with some serious damage to the strength in her legs. Over the past while she has fallen several times using a walker. The last fall happened this last St. Patrick's Day. She was getting into bed and for seemly no reason fell over backwards. Although the MRI didn't find anything broken, it did reveal several other things. We knew she was struggling a bit from dementia and difficulty with her balance and trouble walking.
The Fairview Hospital Staff recommended that because of the weakness in her legs, heart enlargement, narrowing of the right artery, hypertension of the brain stem, mild to moderate generalized atrophy of the brain, they suggested nursing home care or Hospice Care.
We chose Hospice because with the present Coronavirus restrictions in place we wouldn't be allowed to
even visit her in a nursing facility. So we chose Hospice and are extremely pleased with their tender, loving care. So, she's been home here now since March 20th. An aide bathes her twice a week and an RN visits once a week. Her full time caretaker is her dear husband, Cy. He is cook & bottle washer, swiffwerer, laundry maid, and her best friend. The other night she asked him if he was her brother.
With a little remindering she realized the reality. We are in the process of checking with the county about possibly getting a Personal Care Attendant for 20 or 30 hours a week. This, plus, maybe Meals on Wheels after the virus goes back to hell might normalize us enough that the "caretaker" can even fish a couple hours a week on South Lindstrom lake only a block down the street.
The Good Lord continues to sustain us... We are most grateful to Almighty God, our faithful family, friends, relatives, and the St. Bridget's staff. We have everything we need to keep us focused on the journey and are most grateful. "We have everything we need." (Psalm 23)
May this Easter Sunday shower all of us and the whole universe with God's Peace, Love, Joy and Healing...
Via Cy
Our last entry in CaringBridge was way back in 2017...
The Chemo regiment over 3 years ago seems to have taken good care of riding Joan completely of the ovarian cancer. However, the 3 powerful drugs used to rid the cancer left her with some serious damage to the strength in her legs. Over the past while she has fallen several times using a walker. The last fall happened this last St. Patrick's Day. She was getting into bed and for seemly no reason fell over backwards. Although the MRI didn't find anything broken, it did reveal several other things. We knew she was struggling a bit from dementia and difficulty with her balance and trouble walking.
The Fairview Hospital Staff recommended that because of the weakness in her legs, heart enlargement, narrowing of the right artery, hypertension of the brain stem, mild to moderate generalized atrophy of the brain, they suggested nursing home care or Hospice Care.
We chose Hospice because with the present Coronavirus restrictions in place we wouldn't be allowed to
even visit her in a nursing facility. So we chose Hospice and are extremely pleased with their tender, loving care. So, she's been home here now since March 20th. An aide bathes her twice a week and an RN visits once a week. Her full time caretaker is her dear husband, Cy. He is cook & bottle washer, swiffwerer, laundry maid, and her best friend. The other night she asked him if he was her brother.
With a little remindering she realized the reality. We are in the process of checking with the county about possibly getting a Personal Care Attendant for 20 or 30 hours a week. This, plus, maybe Meals on Wheels after the virus goes back to hell might normalize us enough that the "caretaker" can even fish a couple hours a week on South Lindstrom lake only a block down the street.
The Good Lord continues to sustain us... We are most grateful to Almighty God, our faithful family, friends, relatives, and the St. Bridget's staff. We have everything we need to keep us focused on the journey and are most grateful. "We have everything we need." (Psalm 23)
May this Easter Sunday shower all of us and the whole universe with God's Peace, Love, Joy and Healing...
Via Cy
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