The Importance Of Family Support

I have been reading through the posts this morning. I found it enlightening to read how many people posting had the support of their family.

The support I had given wasn't returned

I have, since my early teens, been to the best of my ability a support/helper to my family members, such as my great-grandmother, grandmother, and grandfather.

When I had a sudden cardiac arrest, my mother and daughter acted like I had the plague! My family did not visit me in the hospital and ignored me at home. I was totally helpless. I could not walk, talking was an effort, and my vision was gone.

Setting boundaries

Life was ugly!

Odd thing was, I put myself together enough to sort out the situation. I announced, "We are a family! We will be kind to each other! If the current behavior does not end today, I am moving back to Canada. A caretaker will come in to care for Betty (my mother)." I gave my 20-year old a eviction notice to vacate in 60 days.

Suddenly hostilities calmed. Food was prepared, voices were softer.

However, I still felt like my house mates would have stepped over my cold dead body.

My paid caregivers were caring and nuturing

The people who treated me well were all paid for their services However, I felt and still feel they really cared for me and were interested in helping me survive and flourish.

Twenty-one years and 6 months, I am alive, functional, and have made lots of changes to accommodate my medical condition. It's been sort of an ongoing battle with my electrophysiologist (EP) and, to a lesser degree, my cardiologist (he is mainly displeased with me due to the fact I secured a second and third opinion in regard to having my CRT-D replaced or a different type of therapy.

I have spent over 21.5 years of being told I am on death's door...

Be thankful for those who care for you

My best hope is for all the people reading this message, be thankful, get going, and do your TRUE BEST to live a full life. There are a lot of people like me, who have no love and no one who cares.

Interesting how often the caretaker in the family is left out in the cold when their time comes for caring support.