As many know already, life changes with aging parents. Mom passed away over 8 years ago and Dad has been aging gracefully, until a about a year ago. At that time, he started becoming noticeably more unsteady on his feet. His knee replacement (Knee 3.0) of the replacement knee he wore out 5 years ago, never quite healed to his satisfaction and he has had discomfort in it since. He used a cane occasionally if he was walking on uneven ground or going to be on his feet for a while. Now, he uses it whenever he leaves the house.
Last week, he had a TIA. He bounced back pretty well, but now there is the follow-up appointments my sister is taking him to, and we take his BP daily. He is doing well, but it definitely starts to sink in that he will not live forever. I know, I really never believed he would, but still, his mortality becomes more apparent.
He called yesterday and said he was at a local park... my heart skipped a beat. Then he finished the sentence to ask if I could come home and help him take the groceries into the house. The man I always went to for opening the jars now comes to me. I was thinking in that split second that he had a medical emergency or a car accident. Yes, he still drives, but only relatively locally, and NOT after dark.
I am ever so grateful that he is still with us at 88 1/2 years old and that he has a sound mind. I hope he is still going strong for several more years.
