The stories and experiences shared here reflect my personal journey. Names and some details have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy. These posts are meant to highlight my own insights and growth, not to identify others.
John & Ida. 7/2021.
Ida is a total hip patient of mine. When you go into a patient’s house for the first time, you never know what you’re going to get or see; which family members will be there, etc. When I came into this home at the front door you could see the dining room, kitchen, and family room all at once; in other words, a fairly small house. The pt was sitting w/ her feet up and her adult daughter was present.
The other person in the room, on a recliner, was a tall man in a bathrobe. I don’t think his eyes were open but they could have been. The man appeared to be in very bad physical shape and was very pale. There was an old white can lying on his lap. During my whole interaction with the pt and daughter, not one once did anyone mention the man lying on the recliner. At some point I asked if the pt was going to have to be a caregiver, at all, to her husband and the daughter, said, “No, we’ve told him he can’t have Mom helping with things”. I’m like, oookayyy; it looks like this man needs help with everything.
I left and didn’t really think anything else of it. The second time I went to the house, I knocked. It is very common that I’ll have to wait a bit before anyone can answer the door. I’m waiting a bit and when the door opens, wouldn’t you know, it’s the husband answering the door! I was literally floored. Turns out the husband’s name is John. Although he has advanced Parkinson’s, he is still ambulatory and very functional. He is very funny; such a great dry wit. You have to listen carefully because his voice is very soft. I will go into greater explanation but John is British and Ida is German; this is at least the second (John) and maybe the 3rd marriage (for Ida). You cannot imagine my surprise that this man was up and walking after I thought he was basically an invalid the first day hahaha.
addendum: This is a true case of “You can’t judge a book by its cover”!
