Sitting here with Dad now for a bit. I got up earlier and composed a poem which covers this visit, a good visit, and glad I endured the pain to come. Mom read it. We both cried. Now she is making waffles with peaches in the kitchen. Should be a good Sunday feast.

Here is the poem:
Alzheimers Lament
MRidder 20100919

Here I am this early morn
had come with fear, but not forlorn
for Dad did know and name me right.
We talked and talked ‘til it was night.
His strength ebbs fast,
to bed at last
until the morrow gives him more.
This visit has brought memories fore
and we have talked and tested lore.
So glad we came
though there was pain
in travelling far so see again.
My Dad is home, just sometimes gone
of course he asked “who are those men?”
referring thus to twins we have.
known them long since babes he has.
Our time draws near to return home
And glad we came for parents lone.
God grant Mom strength as care she does
for Dad as fading comes with disease
Strong glimmers of the man gone by
he showed me well, and just last night.
My Dad is here and near enough
we can return before times too tough.
God bless these two, my Mom and Dad
And bring them memories, of times when glad.


God Bless you ALL Today,
ASAP,
Mark56 PJ

Mark such a beautiful poem. It must be so hard to watch your dad drift away with this awful disease. Its great that you got to see him through all your pain and have some beautiful times with both your mom and dad

Your father must be an incredible man
Thanks for sharing him with us.

Rae

What a trip. Glad we are back home. Burned some on the way there. Turned up the buzz. Trip home made more stops and avoided the burning because I used more stim.... I guess.

Glad to have seen Dad and Mom, celebrating the birthday. That was special.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers,
Mark56 PJ

So glad for you, Mark!

Mark, I am so glad that you were able to spend that time with your dad! Your poem was very beautiful! Thank you for sharing and being such an awesome support and encouragement to our group Tara

Hi Tara, Rae, Jackie, Fiona, and thank you for reaching out in response to our recent trip to see my parents. I spent a lot of quality time with Dad.

Saw my physiatrist today at last, Sept 23. His appt with me earlier was cancelled because he fell ill. Today, he was doing well though. Told him of my continued difficulty in withdrawal symptoms. Although I thought the nausea was controlled, it is still there, I have just stayed away from the Clomipramine because it so drugs me. But this Montezuma's Revenge will not stop! Doc assured me it is just part and parcel of the effect on the gut of the years of meds I had to consume to control pain. Now I have more Librium and Clonidine plus a new supply of pro-biotics and live culture yogurt to try to restore the bod to its status of old. In the meantime, having diarrhea for over a month is REALLY old, REALLY old.

We did share a bud knuckle bump when I revealed to him I am the proud owner and user of a new bike. He, too, is biking for health. A good thing. I will do more, no doubt, once this Revenge stage has passed [oh my, what a PLAY on words].

You all take care, OK?
ASAP,
Mark56 PJ

The 'Revenge' for a whole month is alarming!
Do you ever question whether perhaps your Dr is titrating your body too quickly off these meds??

Just a caring thought......

I'm just concerned this could be doing irreprible (sp?) damage to your 'innerds'........ We lose a lot of important minerals, etc if they aren't absorbed well within our digestive tracts......

This is just no fun dear Bro.
You've been thru the wringer lately and ...... i dunno.....i'll shut up, i'm deadbeat tired and not making sense.....

Well, you see..... it's like this, I was to have seen my physiatrist earlier this month, but he had a heart attack while being operated on himself for an ailment. He was back yesterday, and in rare and enjoyable form. He did prescribe meds and probiotics and live culture yogurt and lots of fresh vegs and fruit.... even the prunes and apricots to restore bulk to the system. I learned the Imodium thing is counterintuitive to this kind of loose stool which results from getting the pain med junk out of my system. So.... VOILA... today I was free from the Montezuma's Revenge. Maybe tomorrow will be as good.

Daughter home from college for the weekend for my birthday. This is a good year for a happy birthday. Good things are going on. I had a job interview via phone today which went very well with a prospective employer [I feel well enough from this stim that I am looking once again for work], sent my resume in, was told even if they have already filled the position for which they were seeking an applicant that their General Counsel is going to want to know about me. That made me feel good at end of day.

Oct 5 I have a live interview lined up with another company who is looking for someone with my skill sets, so..... maybe God has a bright future for my family after all of this 5 1/2 years of pain. I could dig it.

Oh, and here is another poem inspired from our pastor's sermon last Sunday. Got the sermon via email since we were at Mom and Dad's for his birthday. I think it captures the theme well:

Once and Always Faith
MRidder 20100924

Our Lord came clear of humble birth.
He brought life more than all our worth.
The promise giv’n of life beyond,
beckons all toward His simple reward.
He suffered all to come to Him
in childlike faith, no simple whim.
The narrative of Christ is plain,
to give ourselves in love to Him.
A false hope then to look to death
without giving in this life our best.
How can we look to Christ on cross
then parse to Him our pitiful dross.
Give Him our best,
keep close the rest,
and share indeed
with all in need.
He did not ask we come for free,
He wants us now on bended knee.
This faith we have from Christ the King
the once and always faith to bring
along the path of life we lead
to share with all of those in need.
His love of us is gift to share
Throughout the world, to show we care.


Everyone have a wonderful weekend, ya hear?
Prayin for you,
Mark56 PJ

How Wonderful!!

........HOOOOOOLLLLDD the PHONE!!

...i gotta go bake a cake ! .......