Re: Thank You!

[Guest guest]

Donna-

Wow, such kind words. You are welcome yet I feel I

should say thank you for allowing my dad's experiences

in as a way to help you. As I sit here writing tears are

running down my face in remembering the place in the

journey where you are now. There is so much to put

into perspective yet it will happen. I remember feeling

so prepared, knowing that LBD would take my dad and

at times praying that he would be spared. Then when it

did happen I was shocked and couldn't believe it had

happened so quickly. I appreciate all that you wrote

as it was through the group that I gained my support.

I had my dad and my faith and I think that is where I

got my strength. I am always so very pleased when I

read others have a support team to help them through

their journey so I am thankful you had that support. It

is such an odd and horrible disease so it is nice to have

someone else to bounce ideas off. My brother and I

are close, when we see one another but we don't talk

on a regular basis.

I am thankful that your dad didn't go through all the

torment that my dad and other loved ones went through.

It was hard to watch yet we did make it through. I

remember writing to the group when dad passed away

that " dad won his battle " . A battle it was and they

fight the journey with all they have.

Please take the time you need to heal. If you make it

back to the group or not everyone knows you and will

remember you.

We shall always keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

There is a kindred spirit in meeting others who have

travelled the LBD journey and we come out different

people than before we were caregivers. You will

never be forgotten.

Hugs and love to you Donna. We would love to have

you stay in touch-

Sandie

-- Thank You!

Sandie,

I decided to respond to you personally, I hope that is ok. I have

to admit that I haven't kept up on the board as much lately as I

used to, it was getting too hard. I kind of skim through and hope I

get most of it. There are so many new people, it is hard to keep up

on who is who sometimes. I guess that is a good thing because that

means the word is getting out! The most help I got from this group

was from a couple of years back, when I really needed the help and

support, at the beginning of our Lewy journey. That is when you,

Courage,Sally, Peggy and all the other " old timers " where there to

help me put the pieces all together and for that, I am most

grateful! The stories of how you helped your dad through so many

difficult times helped me to be determined to do the same. I can't

even imagine how difficult it was for you. I had so much support

from my husband and boys and also my sisters and some friends. And

another thing is that up until the last few hours, my dad was able

to communicate with me. Even at the end, I could pick up some of

what he was saying, he was just so weak. When I think of you and

some of the others and how your loved ones suffered so and were

tormented, I feel bad and consider us lucky, if you can imagine

that? My dad was awfully sick but I believe that God spared him

some of the awful symptoms that others suffered. I thank him

daily! What he suffered was bad enough but I thank God for sparing

him some of the horrible things I have read about here. I also

thank God for people like you Sandie, who are willing to come here

to take the time to help others. When people come here for the first

time they are usually hurting and bewildered over a disease that

very few people have heard of. They come here and find kindness and

support and a wealth of information that even their own doctors

aren't giving them. I have read here over and over that you do this

in honor of your father. Well, I am here to say that you have

honored him over and over again. I know he must be very proud of

you. Maybe sometime I will start on the group again but I need a

break. I would also like to see about starting some kind of

volunteer program at the NH where my dad was living. (One way I

would like to honor my dad!) Not only would I be honoring him but

it would also be a benefit to all those precious people up there

that I have grown to love. Take care Sandie, and I wish you and

the best in your new home!

Donna Pearce