Thankful he’s home. Thankful we had support.

Tonight was a big night for us. Our son plays trombone and is in his (Texas) high school marching band. And, our daughter had a birthday sleepover across town. Side Bar: I’ve been told that Americans implicitly understand that it’s a big deal to be in a Texas high school marching band, which is why […]

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After In-Patient Stay – A Caregiver’s Task List

We’ve been home a week. And yes, I’m so thankful (so so thankful) hubby was well enough to be discharged. And yes, I much prefer sleeping in my bed to sleeping in a hospital ICU recliner. And yes, the commute, parking fees, and unlimited snacking have taken a toll on my wallet and waistline. But […]

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Dear Clinician, Listen To The Caregiver

Nobody knows my husband, his medical history, or his baseline (what he’s like on a “normal day”) better than me. So, when I have questions or comments about a clinical decision, or share feedback about his clinical status, my words are meaningful. While my commentary and participation is important, I also fully recognize that I […]

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I Didn’t Want My Kids to See Their Dad in the ICU. They Changed My Mind.

It’s weird being a mom. We’re supposed to know all the things, but these two hooligans teach me something new every day. Sometimes it’s about trombones and spittoons or ballet positions, sometimes it’s about calculus or Texas history, and some days it’s about how they need me to parent them. This last hospitalization was scary […]

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Can A New Normal After Illness Still Be A Good Life?

If I let myself, I could spiral to places no one should ever have to go. The truth is, being a caregiver is just too unpredictable for my tiny lizard brain. And if I’m not actively managing my intrusive thoughts with ‘healthy’ coping mechanisms – therapy, writing, sharing with people who love me/us, and accepting […]

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Hospital Fluent: When the Hospital Starts Feeling Familiar

We’re on day (enter random number here because time moves quickly) of a hospital stay that won’t end for a few more days – and the hope is that my dear husband will be approved for rehab (fingers crossed), which means even more days in a care facility. I know that we’ve been here too […]

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How to make the next hospital stay fractionally better

Almost a year ago to the day, our lives were forever changed when a relapse of my husband’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) snuck up on us over the course of a few months. We struggled to understand why everyday tasks seemed more difficult for him and why an uncharacteristic fatigue had washed over him and wouldn’t […]

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