I recently met a former client, June, on the street when we visited our old community. I’m so amazed by this woman.
In my last career, I worked as a community nurse coordinating care between clients and home support workers. Tony and June Marshall became my clients, when Tony had a cerebellar stroke, leaving him unable to walk, or talk. He understood very well, ate by himself, and communicated by writing.
June was adamant that she would care for Tony at home. Many of us health care providers talked with June about all the stress and work this meant and suggested she consider having Tony enter an extended care facility. June heard us out patiently, then persisted with her plan.
The house was remodeled to accommodate Tony’s wheelchair. Other devices were brought to the home, special mattresses, lifts, and supports. Home support workers were trained and hours for care established.
June very quickly made this work very well. She could be found on their acreage pruning trees, mowing the lawn and attending to all the other tasks needed to keep this immaculate property up.
When June needed to attend events, Tony would attend a local facility for respite. Sometimes, family members cared for him in his home. On other occasions he accompanied June, with care arranged at the other end. These arrangements worked for eight years.
Last year, June fell out of a tree on their property and broke her back in five places. Her doctors told her she would never walk again.
June said, “Give me four months!” Her husband went to respite and she started physiotherapy.
In five months she was walking again with her husband back home again. I met her outside the post office, yesterday, where she told me, “I’m not quite ready to lift him as I used to, but I’m working on it.”
Fantastic!
