Meet fellow Caregivers - Introduce yourself

@megwill100, Hi, this is Rosemary, again. We keep meeting!
I want to share my experience with you.
My mom's husband died in Nov. 2008. He was her caregiver: Multiple Mylenoma, severe hearing loss, dementia. He had covered for a lot of her dementia, and we had blamed her 'ways' on her not hearing. We quickly learned that mom needed 24/7 care. At this exact time, my liver disease was making its downward spiral to cirrhosis. I was in the process of evaluation for listing for a liver transplant, and feeling and looking very sick. My dear brothers told me to go home (120 miles) and stay there and take care of me. This was hard because I needed mom, and my mom needed me. They brought her to see me when I was in ICU . My mom, with all of her own needs, knew me, and she wanted to stay with me and care for me. I tell you that because even in her suffering, her concern was for me. Well, after that I was transported 800 miles away to Rochester. My brothers would keep me updated. They said she kept wanting to go to take care of me. However, on the phone, she did not know me. Months passed. I received my organ transplant and mom continued to decline. She was in hospice care by the time I finally got home. My husband and I went to see her, for the very last time. Mom actually woke out of her delirium when I called out to her. I was able to let her know that I was better. We said good bye. She never woke again. She died 3 days later. My brothers feel certain that she waited to see that her little girl was going to be okay. The love that I felt at that special moment with her made up for all of the guilt that I had been feeling.
Thus my purpose in relaying this long episode: Our parents love us and they want the very best for us. Even when/if they cannot tell us. I can't take away your guilt, but I can't take away your other health issues, either. I am sorry that you have found yourself as both a patient and a caregiver. Its not an easy road. I can see that by the many responses you are not alone. I'll keep you in my prayers. Rosemary

Wonderful, granddaughter was married over the weekend at Mt. Hood. We stayed at a motel in Hood River. Took a motel, it's too long a drive to attend the wedding and drive back home 190 miles for us one way. Anyway the wedding was great. I met Mikala at my daughter Becky's home.Before the wedding Took the gifts there, Also bought an Ottomen along with the Amish basket full of (sea foods) She like them all. It was a great weekend, but I'm glad it's over. Both Bob & I had a great weekend.
I had a cat scan last week. See the oncologist on the 14th.

Hi, my name is Cheryl, age 56, and my husband, age 57, is going to be having a allogenic stem cell transplant next week. He is being treated for ALL B cell Leukemia. Is anyone here going through a similar experience? Thank you, Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,
Welcome to Connect and the caregivers group.
I'm tagging fellow members @reflections @azjulie @irishk who may be able to offer some insight into stem cell transplant from a caregivers perspective.

I'm so glad you found our group here. We look forward to getting to know you a bit better. If you're comfortable with it, can you tell us a bit more about your situation? When was your husband diagnosed? How are you preparing for next week's transplant?

Hello & thank you . I'm JULZ.
I am the sole caregiver for my 86 yr old Mom who has frontaltempral dementia , congestive heart failure , fluid in her lungs as well as inoperable breast cancer in both breasts as well as behind her bladder, & glaucoma.
It has been quite the journey over the past two years starting with the Alzheimer's.

Hi, i'm Bensgal, taking care of my husband who has Alzheimers. I am happy to have found your group. Ben was recently hospitalized for 4 days
with an infection and internal bleeding. All is cleared up now, and we are doing fine, but he has suffered a set back due to the severity of his illness.
Slowly he is remembering, but we have no way of knowing how much he has lost.

Welcome to the Caregivers group Bensgal! I'm glad to hear Ben's infection and internal bleeding has cleared up. That must have been a fright.
I encourage you to also meet others talking in the discussion "Caring for someone with dementia / Alzheimer's" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/caregiving-for-dementia-sufferers/

We're happy you found us too.

Hi. I'm Joyce and I am a caregiver for my husband. I have never joined a discussion group before. Give me an idea how this works.

Hi Joyce, welcome to Connect. Good for you for taking the first step of posting a message. That's usually the hardest part. To learn more about How to Get Started, you can read this page https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/
You will get an email notice telling you that I have replied to your message. Simply click VIEW & REPLY in the email and you'll be taken right to the discussion and see my response.

Here is the Caregivers group we talk openly and without judgement about the challenges and joys of caregiving. @IndianaScott @tavi @julz @sandydominy1 @lisa_sj99 @burrkay will you join me in welcoming Joyce?

Joyce, we look forward to getting to know you better. What diagnosis does your husband have? What do you give thanks for this holiday weekend?

Thanks you for inviting me to be part of this group. I am Bensgal and am caring for my Husband, who has Alzheimers.