Chase_Corin
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2010
- Messages
- 135
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Diagnosis
- 11/2010
- Country
- CA
- State
- On
- City
- Perth, Ontario
I keep hearing the statistics, 90% of people with ALS die within the first 5 years and my brain goes numb.
My father was diagnosed in November of 2010 but we theorize that he had it at least a year to 2 years before that. I keep thinking it's not enough time, that i havn't had enough quality time with my father.
My dad is the last of his family still alive, his brother died from Cancer 7 years ago and his mother died of a brain tumour 5 years ago. We don't even know if this is Famileal ALS because his family have all died young.
Growing up dad was away a lot of the time because he was a Forest Fireman and worked in the firld for the ministry of natural resources. But the things I remember is him teaching me to swim. And on sunny weekends breaking out the buckets to wash the car the young me dressed in a swim suit because he knew I was going to get soaked.
In the years since 1998 when he had major surgery to remove arthritus build up in his spine he has been less and less mobile but even just laat year he and I were doing yard work together. He gave up driving last May because of the weakness in his arms. And he has a hard time getting around on uneven ground outside.
I have taken over the care of our 4.5 acre property on the outside and help as much as I can on the inside. Dad used to be the one that grilled and he hasn't been able to lift the lid on the BBQ in over a year. The things that he loves to do are evaporating on a daily basis and I hate to see him so frustrated.
Right now he watches a lot of television, does his physeotherapy exercises and can still do some light reloading (he was always an avid target shooter and he reloads his own ammo) but i dread the day when he can no longer go downstairs to his lair (where the den and his indoor workshop are).
We have considered bringing things upstairs but dad has nixed that idea, he said that he would need to take over too much space and it wouldn't be worth it. I want to be able to help him to still be able to do things but his interests are so limited that I don't know how to do that. He used to do woodworking but dosn't have the strength for it anymore.
I guess I just feel that I am at a loss to help him and that frustrates me. Dad is frustrated all the time. He has never been able to enjoy his retirement and it bothers me that he never seems to be happy anymore except for the occasional joak that makes him laugh.
the way his condition is progressing I feel that dad will fall into that 90% statisic and it scares the hell out of me. I want to be helpful and supportive but I don't know how.
My father was diagnosed in November of 2010 but we theorize that he had it at least a year to 2 years before that. I keep thinking it's not enough time, that i havn't had enough quality time with my father.
My dad is the last of his family still alive, his brother died from Cancer 7 years ago and his mother died of a brain tumour 5 years ago. We don't even know if this is Famileal ALS because his family have all died young.
Growing up dad was away a lot of the time because he was a Forest Fireman and worked in the firld for the ministry of natural resources. But the things I remember is him teaching me to swim. And on sunny weekends breaking out the buckets to wash the car the young me dressed in a swim suit because he knew I was going to get soaked.
In the years since 1998 when he had major surgery to remove arthritus build up in his spine he has been less and less mobile but even just laat year he and I were doing yard work together. He gave up driving last May because of the weakness in his arms. And he has a hard time getting around on uneven ground outside.
I have taken over the care of our 4.5 acre property on the outside and help as much as I can on the inside. Dad used to be the one that grilled and he hasn't been able to lift the lid on the BBQ in over a year. The things that he loves to do are evaporating on a daily basis and I hate to see him so frustrated.
Right now he watches a lot of television, does his physeotherapy exercises and can still do some light reloading (he was always an avid target shooter and he reloads his own ammo) but i dread the day when he can no longer go downstairs to his lair (where the den and his indoor workshop are).
We have considered bringing things upstairs but dad has nixed that idea, he said that he would need to take over too much space and it wouldn't be worth it. I want to be able to help him to still be able to do things but his interests are so limited that I don't know how to do that. He used to do woodworking but dosn't have the strength for it anymore.
I guess I just feel that I am at a loss to help him and that frustrates me. Dad is frustrated all the time. He has never been able to enjoy his retirement and it bothers me that he never seems to be happy anymore except for the occasional joak that makes him laugh.
the way his condition is progressing I feel that dad will fall into that 90% statisic and it scares the hell out of me. I want to be helpful and supportive but I don't know how.