I have noticed that as I have become less able to communicate, the more acceptable it is to assume my mental incapacity. Even though I reside in a prestigious nursing facility, I am falling victim to the notion that I am not reasonable or prone to fits of temper for "no reason at all". These prejudices, that is what they are, are harmful to the ALS patient. They leave us grievously wounded, susceptible to physical harms, like pneumonia, choking, death, etc; as well as mental harm, like grief, despair, depression, and death of the spirit.
I think about my friend, Kate Struby, who died from this horrible disease in 2013. She lived here at Bailey Boushay House before I did. I reached out to Kate online through FaceBook because I loved her photograph with her head thrown back in laughter. I also loved her posts. I guess I just loved her spirit. I got to finally meet her one month before she died. I happened to be at the University of Washington Medical Center for my quarterly appointment when I saw her FaceBook post. She was awake and in the medical ICU. She was a mere few floors down. I would not be stopped. Relativeor no, I would meet my FaceBook friend. Thank God I did. I rolled into the room to find a beautiful, ethere.al woman flanked by two friends. Although it was an impromtu visit, she said she knew me immediately.I was in awe of her with her fiery spirit despite the ravages of our shared disease. She, unable to lift even a finger, lifted my spirit.
Comments
Post a Comment