People
have shared with us that, “The Lord works in mysterious ways” enough times over
the 27 years since Patti was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis to
probably qualify for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Those
‘mysterious ways’ challenge faith. As the spouse caregiver, watching Patti
decline over nearly a quarter century (and over a three year period burying my
father, mother, and only brother) I've certainly had, have, and will have
contentious streaks in my relationship with God, fortunately always staying
just beyond the ‘smite with lightning bolt’ threshold.
Patti
believes my faith matters, so allow me to pull back a curtain. My paternal
great grandparents, including the original “Patrick Leer”, who I am named after
were immigrants from Ireland and my bedrock is Irish Catholic.
Decades
ago wanting to have our daughter baptized Catholic we were told our marriage
would first have to be validated. Patti’s Lutheran baptism and our marriage
outdoors by an ordained Lutheran minister were unacceptable to Rome.
Even
though Patti desired to convert, once a wheelchair was required it became a
game changer for accessibility. Frankly juggling spouse caregiving and
basically single parenting was more important.
However,
as proof “the Lord works in mysterious ways” with time MS cognitive and
dementia problems erased religious labels. Plus caregiving + Sunday + church +cognitive symptoms = some interesting experiences.
A week
ago, taking Patti out for lunch I was reminded by her care facility staff to
have her back by 1:30 PM for her “Catholic thing”.
That
“Catholic thing” would be the Feast of St. Blaisé, “through the intercession of
Saint Blaisé may God deliver you from the ailments of the throat and from every
other evil….”
.jpg "candles for Feast of St. Blaisé")
Yes, speech
therapists treat dysphagia but come on now they lack the whole cool looking
crossed candle ritual and after yesterday’s cosmic coincidence, maybe just
maybe we all need a little more than therapy.
“Care”
is rooted in the “Golden Rule” universal to ALL religions.
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PS many find it easier to comment via Facebook link than hassle with Blogger spam captchas. ... Readers are always welcome!
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PS many find it easier to comment via Facebook link than hassle with Blogger spam captchas. ... Readers are always welcome!
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Patrick Leer
Health Activist:
Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/
multiple sclerosis
caregiving
dementia
mental health
Being a cradle Irish Catholic myself, I'm chuckling over the "Catholic thing!" A blessing is a blessing, though (and BTW -- those nifty crossed candles aren't really necessary) and it sure can't hurt. I like the St. Blaise story about the wolf!
ReplyDeletePeace,
Muff
I am wondering if it ever gets easier or less embarrassing when the cognitive thing i.e. disinhibition and lability along with impusivity cause behaviors that no one else understands and everyone thinks means he is just inappropriate. I still go for inappropriate before I give him the benefit of the doubt for the other things. I do have one story, reading a passage at a church we were at and the version they were using was phrased "God pitched a tent in the sky." most say created a tabernacle or something more grand. We both lost it like pre-teens trying not to laugh but laughing so hard we couldn't stop. We never went back to that church! :)
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