Tippy2

My wife and I moved from the city to the shores of Table Rock Lake in Southwest Missouri in 1983. We owned our our own Independent Insurance Agency. We worked together and we played together and we both loved the rural lakeside life we were living. We were avid lady basketball fans and season ticket holders at the then Southwest Missouri State Lady Bears for many years. During the summer months we both loved to play golf and we had many enjoyable hours together on the golf course. Life was fine and we enjoyed being together.
Our first set back was her diagnosis of RA in 1992. Doctors were able to control this disease and it had little affect on our lifestyle at that time.. In 2002 she was also diagnosed with COPD, Emphysema, Bronchiectasis, and signs of possible pulmonary fibrosis beginning. We did what we could to learn about these diseases. We still were able to continue our lifestyle, though limited in some areas. In 2006 she was placed on O2 24/7. We then worked hard together to learn all we could about these diseases. I became her Caregiver and I was determined to learn all I could and to provide the absolute best possible care for her. She in turn began a long and hard courageous battle fighting these diseases. We faced many, many ups and downs and she maintained a positive attitude throughout. I in turn learned all I could from many different medical professionals, about how to best take care of her. Many areas we both learned the hard way. Neither of us ever gave up and we were together as a team as we both desired. She passed away peacefully, at home, in my arms on Memorial Day 2009. I am so proud of her and I accept her passing as only a temporary separation.
Doctors, nurses, friends, and other medical professionals have encouraged me to to share the knowledge I learned with others in order to help and assist other caregivers and their patients. I am certainly no professional, and did not really realize what I had learned might be of help to others. I have accepted this challenge hoping that my experiences may be of benefit to others.