Monday, October 22, 2007

145 Portrait of Stage 7

This is my father now:
He sits, tied in his wheelchair (otherwise he falls out). His head is down, his chin almost on his chest. His chest is wet with drool. He speaks no intelligible words. (Once in a while, he may utter a "no" "yeah" or "hi" but it's very rare and not always pertinent.) He is aspirating his food and drink. He will not hold my hand or even look at me. (I tried to make him look at me and he took off his glasses.) He is on a catheter, in diapers, in acute kidney failure.

This is the stage 7 description from the Alzheimer's web site:
Stage 7:Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)
This is the final stage of the disease when individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and, ultimately, the ability to control movement.

  • Frequently individuals lose their capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered
  • Individuals need help with eating and toileting and there is general incontinence of urine
  • Individuals lose the ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, the ability to smile, and the ability to hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired.
I haven't been to see him for a few days. I'm going to try again tomorrow. It's a long drive to be turned away at the end by a man who may be angry or may just be utterly confused.

10 comments:

Mary said...

My heart goes out to you...

My Dad is also stage 7. He's stopped eating everything but sweets-cookies and tootsie roll pops. He is much like your Father in other ways.

I don't really know what to say but that you are not alone, and I'm sending you and your Father and Family lots of Reiki healing energy if you would like it...Please let me know if there is any way I can help.

In Light,

Mary

Anonymous said...

Bert,

I'm so sorry. I think some part of your dad must appreciate your visit, even if you can't tell. Just being there is your gift.

Mona

Anonymous said...

((( hugs ))) I am so sorry. D

Unknown said...

please visit

http://milkpowd.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Dear friend you try to listen Rathana Pirith at lease 2 hours early morning and evening with your dad.
You have to do this for 2 weeks continuously and strongly believe that it will help your father to become 100% cure of the ill.
Lord buddha chanted Pirith 2500 year before and it will help to cure 100% of any kind of cure through your fathers mental strength. since he is sick he has to listen only. No need to tell him.
Also check the website carefully and try to understand how is "POWER OF PIRITH" Effect to cure any disease.
seem to be no choice for you, their for do it and see the result.
this is for not cost for you as well.
you can download the pirith from website mention as bellow.
http://milkpowd.blogspot.com

you can communicate me through
shantha95@gmail.com
thanks.

Aruna said...

Pirith (Paritta) for Intelligent People

'Recent research in medicine, in experimental psychology and what is still called parapsychology has thrown some light on the nature of mind and its position in the world. During the last forty years the conviction has steadily grown among medical men that very many causes of diseases organic as well as functional, are directly caused by mental states. The body becomes ill because the mind controlling it either secretly wants to make it ill, or else because it is in such a state of agitation that it cannot prevent the body from sickening. Whatever its physical nature, resistance to disease is unquestionably correlated with the physiological condition of the patient.'

'Mind not only makes sick, it also cures. An optimistic patient has more chance of getting well than a patient who is worried and unhappy. The recorded instances of faith healing includes cases in which even organic diseases were cured almost instantaneously

The Power of Sound
It is believed that the vibratory sounds produced by the sonorous and mellifluous recital of the paritta suttas in their Pali verses are soothing to the nerves and induce peace and calm of mind; they also bring about harmony to the physical system.

How can bad influences springing from evil beings be counteracted by recital of paritta suttas? Bad influences are the results of evil thinking. They can, therefore, be counteracted by wholesome states of mind. One sure way of inducing a wholesome state of mind is by listening and reflecting on paritta recitals with intelligence and confidence. So great is the power of concentration that by adverting whole-heartedly to the truth contained in the paritta recitals one is able to develop a wholesome state of mind.

Kamma means action and not the result of action; therefore action can be counteracted by other action. Kamma is not something static, but is always changing, i.e., always in the making; that being so, action can be counteracted by other action. Hence bad actions on the part of the hearers of the recital may negative the beneficial effects of the recital.

If the mind of the hearer is contaminated with impure thoughts then also the intended beneficial effects of the recital may not materialize. But however impure the mind of the hearer may be if there is great confidence in the efficacy of the recital then this important factor may help to secure for him the beneficial effects of the recital.

e said...

Very Sad. 2 years ago I would never have known or understood how a person-a human being-gets to this point. Or what the family could possibly be going through.

Painful reading, but so valuable understand the effects of this disease.

Unknown said...

Your blog was linked by Organized Wisdom. I'm very sorry to read about your dad. My boyfriend's mother has been stage 6-7 for nearly five years. She eats very little now, other than soft veggies and Ensure.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for you, but thank you for posting this..my mom is now in stage 6 and this helped me so. my prayers are with you and your family

Ohley said...

...2DAY WE GOT THE NEWS MY FATHER INLAW IS AT STAGE 7. HE REFUSES TO EAT OR TAKE HIS MEDICATION. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO WE ARE. HE'S NOT TRYING TO TALK AT ALL AND NEEDS HELP WITH EVERTHING AT THIS POINT! WE JUST PUT HIM IN A HOME 2MTHS AGO. WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN HIM THAT MUCH. MY HUSBAND HAS A HARDTIME SEEING HIS DAD THAT WAY! HE'S ONLY 56YRS OLD! SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO U AND YOUR FAMILY. JUST TRY AND REMEMBER YOUR DAD FOR WHO HE IS AND NOT THE DISEASE.