A Journey Through Fire: ALS - Memoir of a caregiver

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This is a story about a journey...a journey not anticipated or planned, but a reluctant, miserable voyage brought on by a devastating illness. This unforeseen life journey became a battle against ignorance, uncertainity, fear, despair, misery and suffering, and death. For me as a Christian, it became a ceaseless effort...even a struggle, to understand God's purpose for terrible trials, and to find refuge in His promises.
Life changed forever when the doctor diagnosed my husband with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease in January of 2003. Extreme tragedy, dread, and grief surrounded us as the disease stalked him unmercifully. It finally defeated him with death after long months of torture. There were many challenges during our journey. We struggled to accept the inevitable, understand the disease and its consequences, to find appropriate medical care and treatment, and the daunting task to figure out how to access the many other resources, which would be required for his care. The mental, emotional, and heart-wrenching consequences of grief, despair, fear, helplessness, and then hopelessness were the greatest challenges of all.

At the time of my husband's diagnosis, I had been a practicing R.N for forty-five years. I had cared for many people with serious or terminal illnesses, and suffering and death were not foreign to me. However, I knew little about ALS. I recalled from nursing school that it is a rather rare disease with no known cure. Other aspects and facts of the disease had long faded from memory.

As I began the search for information, it became clear very quickly that this was no ordinary disease, but an exceedingly ruthless and deadly affliction. The care for someone with an illness such as this would be complicated. There was a great deal to learn, and I realized that I was not at all prepared. During my daily caregiving efforts, especially as the illness progressed, I had my nursing education, experience, and skills to assist me. I wondered how someone with no skills or medical background would ever be able to cope with the enormity of it all. I came to believe that if God showed me the way, lessons learned could equip me to help others who may take a similar journey.

Language: English

Pages: 295

Format: Kindle Edition

A Journey Through Fire: ALS - Memoir of a caregiver

Shirley Knight

3.8/5 ( ratings)

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Language: English

Pages: 295

Format: Kindle Edition

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A Journey Through Fire: ALS - Memoir of a caregiver

A Journey Through Fire: ALS - Memoir of a caregiver

A Journey Through Fire: ALS - Memoir of a caregiver

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