Welcoming the new year has been special for me this particular year. I have had a few difficult years, 1997-98, and survived. This year, I have been thrust into a caretaker role for the first time since my three children grew up and entered professions that were self-sustaining. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After many machinations of the health care system, he finally began treatment. He is too old for surgery, so his only options were radiation or proton therapy. The proton option was a 45-minute drive. The radiation option was 5 minutes. Since he had to go every day for 8 weeks, we opted for radiation.
As he was leaving the radiation room one day, he tripped and tore his Achilles. He had to wait until the radiation was completed, and then on November 3, they did the surgery to repair the Achilles. We are now into mid-January, and he is still using a walker and a cane. He progressed from a boot and a wheelchair, and continues with twice-weekly in-home PT. Now he is getting stronger.
He is 6 feet 4. I am 5 feet 2. Taking care of him has given me a whole new view of aging, and I guess what is ahead. Changing and aging are the most overwhelming challenges.
Life Gets Better 