Dad's decline

I ran across these notes Mom had made about Dad’s decline. I wish I had recorded things as they were happening. I know it was hard, but I don’t think I fully comprehended what it would be like to lose your mate little bit by little bit.


I so wish I had her feelings written down. Bit and pieces are good, but to see it through her eyes would be so much better.

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December 2002: Had difficulty putting up Christmas lights. A neighbor finally came over two times to help him.



Obsessive about genealogy and the history center. One track mind.



March 2003

Started forgetting things – names, events and people.



July (2003) – rode bike to university and locked it and couldn’t undo the combination and so he walked home and took a hack saw to it.



August: Went to the HC (history center) and rode his bike and forgot it and walked home. He said the bike was locked.

August: Went down to Wuthrich nursery and got lost.

Sept 2003 – Released from the History Center and from Home teaching. Put truck in Vicki’s garage as he was running down the battery by leaving the door open or lights on or the keys on.

Oct – Had a colonoscopy and we had a terrible time. Gallon of medicine in him. He lost control and we knew every step he took. Morning of operation, we put him in the tub and couldn’t get him out. Vicki got in the bathtub in back of him. She lifted and I pulled and we got him out. Needless to say that’s his last tub bath.

Oct: Told the oxygen man that he was going to kick my butt. He told him I had taken his truck and wouldn’t let him drive.

Took call from Connie and remembered the message of a new baby on the way and remember to tell us who called and the message content.

Coke in fridge. Freezer open.

He wants to put shoes on beat down the locked fruit room door. He wants to take his pebbles (pills).

Put on fleece coat overhead and nude from the waist down. So cold.

East toast with fork. Eat two slices of toast on top of each other.

Wore two watches – one expansion band turns hand numb, but he still wears it.

Sept: Lose keys, lose earphones, lose glasses.

I was shopping – getting caramels from lower case and stopped down to get a couple of pounds. When I stood up, Rex was gone. He thought I had gone off and left him.

Another baby – can’t talk Lee into it.