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#Repost @jj_schalhamer with @get_repost
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I’ve recently had my IG posts about my dad shared more broadly and have seen more followers. That said, for my new followers let me say HI and thank you for following me. My name is Jennifer Schalhamer and I have been caring for my father for exactly 2 years this month. He is currently in an assisted living facility specialized for those with Alzheimer’s. I recently made the switch (1 month ago actually) to a new facility because the care at his previous facility had deteriorated so much that I didn’t feel comfortable with him being there. Quite the risk I took to move him, given how very hard it is for a later stage Alzheimer’s patient to suddenly move facilities. He’s acclimating well to his new facility, but then again it could just be that he doesn’t remember the old facility with his disease.
My father was diagnosed 3 years ago and the disease has taken ahold of him way faster than I would have imagined in my wildest dreams.
This journey has been beyond difficult, heartbreaking, amazing and heart wrenching all at once. I’m an only child of divorced parents so primary caregiver responsibilities fall on me solely. I have been asked several times to write a book to help those in a similar situation, but as a mom of 2 young daughters and a full time job - I wrestle with where I’d find the time to write my authentic story. Someday. A few years ago with my fathers diagnosis, I was handed the toughest situation I can imagine. My father was deteriorating at a rapid pace and I needed to essentially force him out of his house of 30 years into a lock down facility. I had to turn around this pain into something positive. I don’t have the positivity thing down all the way. There are days I really struggle & cry A LOT. I have crazy waves of grief that can at times, overwhelm me due to the unfairness of watching my pops slip away before my eyes. But, the love + grace never goes away. And I know my story NEEDS to be told. So I buck up & share my story in the hopes that I’m helping someone in a similar situation. I can’t begin to thank the countless number of people who show me so much ❤️ on my posts about my dad. I hope you