Living in the Shadow of Alzheimer's

Sheri was invited to be a part of an Alzheimer's Caregiver Advisory Board in Washington DC this past weekend. This was way, way out side her comfort zone, but she put on her big girl pants and went! Sheri felt a little like a fish out of water to be included with some very well known authors and people very involved in the Alzheimer's world. Everyone there embraced her, and valued what she had to contribute, giving her a confidence in having shared her journey with Bob and '"Al".
Sheri felt very honored to have been asked to this event.
God is good, all the time.

Living without Bob and "Al"

Sheri is having a hard time accepting that it has been a year today since Bob and Al became one again, rejoicing with Lord. She is sure he is singing in the heavenly choir.
Sheri needs to pause, praise and pray.

Living with Bob and "Al"

This is 8 minutes of Bob and "Al" trying to put Bob's back brace on. It is important to understand what cognitive impairment really looks like. This is 8 minutes long for us, but to Alzheimer's there is no clock. Watch carefully as "Al" struggles at first to put his back brace on, and then how quickly he looses track of the task and soon has no idea what he was doing at all. This is true cognitive impairment. Please watch to the end Thank you.

If ever there were a year that this award was special to Sheri, she would have to say this year would be it. Thank you to the faithful readers that made this possible. Do your best to live in the moment  and pause, praise and pray.
Click the link below and I am the 6th one down.

Healthline's top Alzheimer blogs of 2019

Living with Bob and "Al"

The beginning of the end chapter 25

Bob and "Al" were in a shared room, and because both of her daughters and their husbands were there constantly, they allowed Bob and "Al" to move to another room they needed privacy desperately. The faculty only had one other room available, they were using half of the room for storage of new kitchen cabinets stacked double high that were to be installed next week. The smell of fresh wood, stain and cardboard permeated the room. Has they have done so many times before on this very long journey, Sheri and the girls had tearful giggles knowing that Bob, the fix anything, build any thing man was right at home, these were smells that Bob would not have found offensive, as Bob the man who managed a hardware store and mixed paint all day, was very familiar with. The irony of the situation brought more laughter, that was really grief running down their faces.

Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Living with Bob and "Al"

The beginning of the end Chapter 20

For the first week things seem to settle down a little, the aids felt like "the boys" were more awake during the morning, so Sheri tried to get there before work as often as she could. She tried to help feed "them". They were quickly losing their ability to swallow, (something that already started before hospice.) The soft creamy food was barely going down. Aspiration was a big concern at this point. Sheri was tired, and seeing Bob like this was heartbreaking.

Living with Bob and "Al"

The beginning of the end Chapter 18

Sheri and the girls met with hospice, there were two people from hospice there. They were wonderful. They listen carefully and understood Sheri's concerns about recent events and explained that now everything would go through them. "the boys" would now get music therapy, massage therapy, and hospice nursing care. Sher felt a sense of relief, and the fog lifted enough to pause, praise and pray.

Living with Bob and "Al"

The beginning of the end Chapter 15

Sheri assured the women she did the right thing, and proceeded to explain to her the emergency room visit and all the tests Bob had done. The aid was fixing Bob's sheets and mumbled under her breath, "well that would have been nice to know."
Sheri took a deep breath, and then told herself to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth.

Living with Bob and "Al"

The beginning of the end Chapter 9

The chest x-ray came back with a small amount of fluid in Bob's lungs, but apparently nothing to be too concerned about. By the time the results of the Brain CT scan came back it was a 8:30pm. Now because of all the drugs they had given "the boys" Bob and "Al" were pretty much catatonic. Sheri waited for the results of the last test, and when the doctor came in Sheri took a deep breath, and waited for what ever she was going to say next.

Living with Bob and "Al"

 The beginning of the end chapter 2

Sheri got to the facility and spoke to the staff. They said that Bob and "Al" had a change in status although they were not sure what had happened. He was not able to bare weight and was unresponsive. Sheri was a little confused because she and the girls had seen him unresponsive quite often but the nurses said they had not seen this previously and wanted him checked out. So off to the hospital by ambulance "they" went. Sheri met the ambulance there but they had already taken "the boys" back to do the initial intake and they would not allow Sheri back in the room. Sheri kept telling them not to leave him alone, explaining the degree of his disease and the nurse assured her some one would be with him.

Living with Bob and "Al"

For those of you that are local who may wish to attend:

Funeral services for Bob Zschocher
Saturday May 26th, 2018
1:30 pm

Cross of Glory Church
4600 Shady Oak Rd.
Hopkins, MN 55343

Thank you,
Sheri

Living with Bob and "Al"

Thank you for all your prayers and support

                            Bob and "Al"

March 29th 1943 - May 22nd 2018                         

Pause, praise, pray

                      

 

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri only thought the last ten years was the hard part.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Okay, Sheri...brand new day, you CAN do this.
Thank you Lord.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri wonders about how to preserve Bob's (and everyone else's) dignity, young people that mean well, but don't understand these human beings have led a life, fathered children, learned many lessons, and served many people. Just because they can not communicate does not mean they can not hear you or understand you.
Sheri needs to pause praise and pray.  

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri has decided that numbness is not just a feeling... it is an emotion.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Other than immediate family, Sheri does not really like taking pictures of people. You see Gods beauty in nature is real and pure. People on the other hand, can pose and smile even when there is a dismantled heart at the other end. 

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri spent some time visiting with Bob and "Al" on Easter Sunday. March is always a rough month for Sheri. Their wedding anniversary, Bobs birthday, and now his only brother (whom he loved dearly) passed away in March as well. Sheri is trying to embrace that April is the time of rebirth and to live in the moment. Things have really changed in Bob's abilities, so remembering to capture, and be grateful for what moments she can, has become paramount.
Sheri is going to continue to pause, praise and pray.  

Living with Bob and "Al"

Dear friends, this life we have on this earth is so very short, and our Alzheimer burdens are many and very heavy.  Sheri wants to tell you though, if you wake up and hear the birds singing, God has blessed you greatly...cast your cares upon Him.

1Peter 5:7
Cast all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri got out this morning for some much needed camera and God time. The frost on the trees and the hazy fog was a great reminder that Jesus's blood covers and protects her every single day.
Sheri stopped to pause, pray and pray.