MyPromise Day 8 "My Role is Changing"

I've realized that since my husband's cancers have been put into remission,  (I do the happy dance every time I say that!!!) my caregiving role is changing. The urgency to stay at home as much as possible with him has made way to more freedom of movement for me. I'm spending a little more time with family and friends, and am looking forward to the long days of summer ahead! I've been wanting to take the top off the jeep and go to the beach with girl friends for a few years now. It's officially a plan in the makings!! One of my girlfriends has already called shotgun!

Today was one of those opportunities to go hang out with my family. I met my parents at McDonalds after work for a quick bite, and then we went over to my Aunt and Uncle's to share my bounty of fava beans. My Uncle is a big fava bean fan, I really felt like they belonged with him since it's clear who enjoys them more! He gave me his "secret" recipe, so the next harvest I'm trying his exact recipe. I'm  hoping to love them, they are, after all a part of my Portuguese up bringing! 

It was nice spending time with them, they recently had their world rocked with a surprising diagnosis of Lou Gerhig's Disease.  My Uncle started losing weight at the beginning of the year for no apparent reason, and was feeling pretty weak. The last thing anyone expected was ALS. Here is a very informative webpage for ALS: 

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_ALS.htm

The article has some pretty grim statistics, I hate grim statistics, luckily there is a ray of hope in this line, "However, about 10 percent of ALS patients survive for 10 or more years." I'm praying that he and countless others with this disease will be in this category. It hurts to see the changes in him already, he's always been a vibrant, active man. I can relate to my Aunts pain. I see it in her face, what the disease is doing to her husband is breaking her heart. I get that......I wish I didn't. We are so powerless to stop these diseases, we can only do what we can to make our loved ones comfortable.

At home, hubby had a nice visit with his own Momma! She comes by once a week to bring him his favorite coffee from Starbucks and to see his beautiful face! They catch each other up, well, mostly its her catching him up...he's pretty quiet, and they hang out. He is able to handle visits from friends and family much better these days, as the pain and nausea begin to subside he isn't so irritable. I think he's enjoying being around himself more too! LOL I think he is enjoying being himself! Thank you God!

Bless us all with healing, peace, love, joy and success in all our ventures.

Big hug (((0)))