Caretaking is difficult, emotionally challenging and requires a great deal of patience. The task of providing care for Lynne in the apartment we set up for Lynne and Mark proved to be too much for Mark and he is heading back to Philly. Jim and I moved Lynne this week to a very nice senior living facility called Atria that will allow her to maintain some independence while also providing her with all the assistance she needs. We arrived on her birthday, December 15th, and in time to attend their holiday party. She received several gifts from Atria, including a journal entitled, "A New Chapter". She's been through so much and we hope that this new chapter sees her continue to improve and enjoy life more. 

We took Lynne and Mark out to dinner for her birthday, gave her gifts and celebrated the fact that she has made it through this year. It's almost been a year since her stroke and while she is still in the wheelchair, we are setting the goal that she will be using a walker by the end of the year. I recently learned that Tina Turner had a stroke in 2013. She was determined to walk again and with therapy and a strong will, she recovered. Despite all that Lynne has gone through, she remains determined and hopeful that she too will recover. 

This year has taken a toll on Jim and me. At the beginning of 2022, we are taking a much needed break and will be spending a month in Costa Rica. We have made arrangements for a caretaker to visit Lynne and make sure she is doing well while we are away.

If you would like to send a card or care package to Lynne, you can mail it to Lynne Gorson, c/o Atria Senior Living, Unit 604, 3555 South Clarkson Street, Englewood, CO 80113. Her cell phone is 610-724-5608. Her speech is improving, but she still gets words jumbled. Because speech can be frustrating, she doesn't always return calls.