Cunningham-Ramos AML & Stroke after TBI Journey

The services we receive from Hospice, the Veterans Administration (VA), and the occasional private nurse aid, are a key reason why I’m able to care for Kim at home. Overall, I’d say that I’m very glad to have made the decision to bring Kim home under hospice.

The first two weeks after Kim came from the nursing facility on November 1, 2022, I thought I was not going to survive day-to-day caregiving. These first two weeks were very difficult. By the second week, I had contacted all the nursing homes in the area and had put his name on the waiting list of the facility that, in my assessment, was the best.

When week 3 & 4 rolled in, I had caregivers lined up for about 4 hours every day and I started to feel that things were under control.

By week 5, I realized that ‘that caring for Kim at home is not that bad at all! On the contrary, I started realizing that not having to go to a nursing facility 2-3 times every day for 4-6 hours each day was a real relief! I could ‘manage’ the caregivers who came to the house; I could leave the house and take care of thighs; or stay at home and do something else besides caregiving.

Also, Kim started looking better and better and, now, in spite of the vestiges of the stroke, he’s ‘happy’ getting 1:1 attention from me and the caregivers,

As mentioned in an earlier post, Kim is in a ‘ stable’ condition, and looking pretty well – strong, healthy, and content! And I am so happy to have not made any swift decisions when things got really hard.

Life is good … in the middle of all the challenges I’m facing, I’m finding a purpose, happiness, and contentment with being able to deliver on my commitment of ‘for better or for worse.’ I can do this, not just because of the services Hospice provides, but, also, because of the benefits that the Veterans Administration provide.