As a caregiver, I’m amazed at how much medical information about the person I care for is thrown at me. The first thing I do is a Google search to learn about the condition, treatment, or medication. Sometimes, I’m inspired to write about the subject. The inspiration for this mini-post Read more…
This question came up after the doctor told my mom that her sodium level was low. We looked at each other and asked, “What does that even mean?” Neither of us had ever heard of a person not having enough salt in their body as a medical problem. With the Read more…
This is my personal essay on skin health. As a youth, I had smooth, clear skin. Little did I know that I inherited several skin conditions that were passed along through the gene pool. At some point during my early teen years, a dark mole appeared in front of my Read more…
This is my personal essay on HEALTH and OLDER ADULTS. Never in a million years could anyone have convinced me that my mom would become ill and I would be her caregiver, but that’s what happened. The Back Story My mother retired at age 61, stayed that way for 6 Read more…
Multiple Sclerosis (more commonly known as MS) is a disease that causes a war within the body. It’s very unpredictable and has a different effect on each person. MS progresses slowly and can be crippling. A person may start using a cane and eventually require a wheelchair for ambulation. Oddly, Read more…
I can recall growing up and hearing some kids say that they had asthma. They would usually carry inhalers around in their pockets. All the other children, myself included, would stare curiously whenever a peer used an inhaler. One of my grandchildren has asthma and, thankfully, it’s controlled by medication. Read more…
Immediately after hearing a doctor say the word terminal, you brace yourself for the worst. You knew your loved one was ill, but you never dreamed their condition was incurable. Not only that, it’s also fatal. But what does that mean? The American Cancer Society defines terminal illness as a Read more…
Alzheimer’s disease can potentially disrupt and devastate a family. For many years I worked as a healthcare provider. On several occasions, I assisted patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I noticed that primary caregivers didn’t have much support outside their immediate households. Family members who lived elsewhere weren’t able to handle the Read more…
It’s no secret that each of us has experienced a stressful moment or time in our lives. Although you may not like how stress makes you feel, MedlinePlus tells us that stress is normal. And we all handle stress differently. Personally, I’ve dealt with stress in various areas of my Read more…
Drug addiction is an illness that can cripple, devastate, and destroy an entire family. Take it from someone who personally witnessed the toll that the 80s crack epidemic took on many families, including one dear to my heart. I remember there was a lady who had been gone from my Read more…
