Meet Chris
Does your Life have a Theme?
Did you ever feel that your life path had a particular theme? Does it feel that your life's lessons follow this theme? I have always felt that way. Individuals with disabilities have unfailingly been central theme in my life.
The week after I was born, my grandfather returned from the hospital having completely lost his sight. I believe it was due to some sort of accidental fall. What I do remember were the things he could do. He could navigate his workshop making jigs to be able to use his tools keeping his fingers safe. He often did small tasks around the house handling simple maintenance. A favorite family dish was potato pancakes. He would grate the potatoes and onions for my grandmother long before food processors were invented. How he did not ground down his fingers was beyond me! I discovered that a disability did not mean inability.
Very quickly, I learned to keep my toys off the floor so grandpa would not trip. It was my special job to guide him during long walks on the boardwalk. Being a very proud man, he would never use the cane with the red tip to let others know he was visually impaired. Arm in arm I became his eyes as we took memorable walks down the boardwalk in Atlantic City. Caring for others became ingrained in who I was early on.
Later in life, I gravitated towards the classes for students with special needs in the schools I attended. By the time I entered high school I spent many lunch periods volunteering in the special education classes.
I majored in special education in college and later received my masters in rehabilitation counseling. Much of my life was focused on helping those with disabilities learn the skills to lead a full life. Little did I know it set the foundation for my life as a full-time caregiver in my later adult years.
Trained and armed with degrees did not necessarily prepare me for the day-to-day challenges of being a caregiver. It helped some, particularly in the beginning of our journey. I was able to pull on my experience in navigating a sometimes less than friendly system. However, all of that experience wears thin when fatigue, stress and years of fighting the good fight catch up with you. It is one thing having the knowledge and another living it day after day. This blog is about my personal journey. It may include stories about the ugly days as well as the ones that have brought joy. Everyone's caregiving journey is different but there are enough similarities knitting us together. Join me as we journey together.
Chris Chats Caregiving
Chris Chats Caregiving
Reflections, Tips, Sharing the Journey
Personal Stories and Experiences of One Woman's Journey in Caregiving
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Our Story
"One day was normal, the next day was not"
Chris
On the road to our new normal
“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of.”
Charles Spurgeon
We never know when life is going to take a turn. My husband and I found ourselves rushing to the emergency room after he fell ill at church on Easter Sunday in 2017. Two days later after a needed triple bypass, serious complications led to our new normal. When I was woken early that morning and told to get to the hospital, little did I know that his complications had him hanging onto life.
Numerous surgeries and procedures kept him in the hospital and then rehabilitation for close to five months. My goal was always to bring him home. Not to say I did not have some second thoughts considering having to manage a feeding tube, a wound vac, injections of insulin, two prosthetics and various other issues from the complications. Ultimately, he came home. For me it was a decision I have not regretted.
The wheels were set in motion to prepare for his return home. That meant reevaluating my career plans, moving to a home that was accessible and learning everything I could stuff into my brain to build in supports and create as “normal” of a life as I could for the two of us and our family.
Our two children were married and living their own lives however, it took years for me to really understand how much this impacted them. When normal changes, it shakes the very core of any foundation that took years to build.
It is those foundation shaking moments that led me to create this blog.
I was fortunate to have a long career working with individuals with disabilities which laid the groundwork for the journey I was about to travel on. For that I will always be forever grateful. Little did I know in 2017 that four years later I would also be taking care of my mom doubling my caregiver responsibilities. Prior to Mom falling ill. She left her home in New Jersey to come assist with caring for Rusty. She gave me three years of friendship, motherly advice, a spark in what could have been a very mundane routine. I felt blessed to have her in my home. Sadly, she passed at 85 leaving a hole in our lives that only she could fill.
So why blog you ask? We all have something to share on this journey. It is important that you don’t travel on the road alone. May you find hope in the reflections, a sense of community, and information that will benefit you and your loved one. Thank you in advance for subscribing!
Chris Chats Caregiving
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