Gary Barg, Editor-in-Chief
I have had a very whirlwind September, including a city a week, (Orlando, FL, Seattle, WA, Casa Grande, Az and Williamsburg, Va) 8 airline trips (16 if you count connecting flights) half of which were delayed and one canceled, four hotels and lots of sky miles on many different airlines. I always find it interesting how exhausted I can get from flying. I’m just sitting there in my cramped seat, I wonder how tired the pilots get, on the other hand, I truly don’t want to know.
The upside of all this traveling is that at the end of each of these trips are rooms filled with my favorite people—family caregivers. And that is worth any amount of airline peanuts and pretzels.
I have been touched by so many of the stories shared by the caregivers in these rooms and the fearless caregiving that is exhibited by so many in each event.
Yet, the first interaction that I want to talk about came after one of these far-flung Fearless Caregiver Conferences. I was sitting in the lobby of the event hotel, waiting for the car to take me back to the airport, happily recalling the love that was just shared in the conference room down the hall, when a couple came up to me and apologized that they arrived late to the event, but they had a neurologist appointment that they couldn’t miss.
I said I was just happy that they were able to spend some of the day with us. A handsome couple, possibly in their mid-fifties, they were pleasant, and I was glad for their company. I was assuming that they were caring for a parent who they accompanied to their doctor’s visit. But you know what they say about assuming (look it up).
The gentleman looked at me with intense blue eyes and said that the appointment was actually for him as he was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was adamant that he would be involved in his own care planning for as long as he could, to partner with his spouse and make sure that she knew he was beside her for as long as possible.
It took all I had not to tear up as they weren’t looking for any sentiment, they just wanted to let me know how important it was for both of them to spend the day with their fellow caregivers. They said they were going to contact some of the pertinent agencies whose representatives they met during the event and thanked me for coming to town.
We parted shortly thereafter, and I spent much of the trip back to the airport will tears in my eyes and a feeling that I was blessed to be able to encounter them as they begin this challenging journey.
As I said, my favorite people.
Please share your thoughts below.