When you try to do your best…

and mess up… 

but we’re all laughing!

I don’t know if I should believe them.

I was there… but I don’t remember it the way they tell about it.

But it gives a person something to think about.  

Note to caregivers!

The story begins… a couple of months ago my daughter, who is living out of state, was having major surgery.  Her husband would be with her day and night during the four days she would be in the hospital.  Then I was flying in to give back-up.

I arrived at their home and saw the set-up.   She had to sleep and recuperate in a recliner in their living room.  Every few hours she needed care with meds, etc.   I would sleep on the couch next to her.

I took one look at my exhausted son-in-law and said, “Go to bed!”

He slept for 12 hours straight.

I’m in control… ya right!

I took over for the next four days.  Or so I thought!

It was on the fourth night that they say I messed up.

I don’t remember that.

I do remember that during the night I got up from the couch and checked my “patient”.  She must not have needed me at the earlier time I concluded because I didn’t wake up.  And therefore I repeated my care around 3 a.m. and again around 7 a.m.  

It was later that morning that they told me what had happened!

Had I died?

Apparently I had become so tired that I never woke up for the first checkup.  My daughter was awake but couldn’t move out of the recliner.  Her hand brushed my hair but I still didn’t wake up.

She used her cell phone to call her husband sleeping upstairs to come check.  He bounded down the stairs and after checking things out he explained to her that I was barely breathing… but I was breathing.  

In fact, when he accidentally pinched his hand in her recliner and yelled out in pain… I didn’t even wake up for a second!

He took care of her meds that time and went back to bed.

Just doing the usual…

Like I said before, I got up at 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and thought everything had been moving along just fine!

But I was later informed that I would sleep in a bed upstairs that night!

We switched our routine more regularly.

 The point is…

My point being… that as a caregiver you may not know when you are going beyond your breaking point.  Please listen to those you know are concerned about you.

On the other hand, I can’t verify that this really happened.  But when the airline cancelled my return flight home due to snow in Minnesota and I got to stay a couple more days… we were better organized!

And when you take care of yourself… you are actually taking care of your loved one too.