Embrace the Journey: Find a "Clean-Up Man"

Donnie, my "Helper"

I call him Caregiver. He says he is Helper. I like and need all he does for me. He's easy and he loves to work and  be helpful.

He likes to eat and I enjoy cooking. I do a lot of food preparation so I appreciate everything he does in the kitchen. We eat mostly at home but enjoy going out for a treat. 

Bone broth and vegetable juices are staples in our refrigerator. He has bone broth with me but not the juice. Making and/or preserving broth and juice take time and lots of standing. 

Embrace Your Destiny: Try The Hard Stuff

We just finished getting both vaccine shots

This year seems to be a test. Can I pass Caregiver 101? I already know I’m no good with tending to sensitive family issues and feelings. First, I don’t notice when anyone is having a problem and second, I’m usually at a loss for what to do. 

Donnie is no good with "feeling" issues either, but he does know what to do in a "needs based" situation. He is a "take charge" partner. We muddle through family things equally bad. We try to set low expectations.

Embrace Your Destiny: Make Some Cookies

He plants my daffodils and I enjoy them

 “Ouch! You’re squeezing my hand too hard and it hurts! Do you have to hold me so tight?” This is just one of my many rants inflicted on poor Donnie, my walking partner. 

All MS patients need a Donnie. I call him "caregiver". He prefers  the term"partner".  We have both grown into helping each other. His "partner" term works well for all  the stuff that I either can’t do by myself, am too fatigued to do, or I’m not good at doing.