Caregiver

My husband, George, passed away on Nov. 22, 2013 from LBD. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in Nov., 2005. From the beginning he had experienced dreams in which he would flail his arms about each night. Shortly into the disease he would see things outside that were not there but just accepted that they were not really there. Knowing nothing about LBD we felt we could deal with the shaking of Parkinson’s. No big deal!

However, beginning May of 2013 we began to find out differently. About a year prior to this I asked our neurologist why George did not shake much? He told me that George had LBD. This was the first time I had ever heard of the disease.

On May 29 George had a heart attack and subsequently aortic valve replacement. During his hospital stay he contracted a UTI that almost killed him. Over the next six months he would under go many rounds of IV antibiotics in order to stop the UTI’s that would not go away. In the end his mind had been destroyed, he was bedridden and could not speak or swallow. He had hallucinations, had been on sedatives and antipsychotic medications, and when he would take his meds most of the time he would spit them out. He was admitted to a nursing home in July and by Oct was in stage 4 renal failure. Hospice was called in. There was nothing more that could be done. He lost 70 pounds total before his death.

I am reeling as he did not die peacefully. He and I fought courageously to no avail. He was a great man who never complained and he has left many wonderful memories which I try hard to remember in order to override the memories of the last few months. LBD is a cruel disease that must be recognized and dealt with. I pray for a cure soon.