In recent weeks I have been taught a renewed sense of the value of good health. My parents who have always been healthy, fit, and free from medications, have been forced to discover the ins and outs of our area hospital and the vast corridors of the Cleveland Clinic. I learned along with them as my mother endured countless x-ray sessions, testing and monitoring.
Our roles in life change over time, and although my parents have always been self sufficient and made their own decisions – and I want them to continue to do so – I hope I will pick up on the little things that become harder for them to do and respond in the most helpful way I can. I hope I will be able to know when to offer help and when to keep out of things. I hope Mom and Dad will know that all my intentions are well meant.
After a lifetime of them looking out for me, the prospect of having things turned around feels strange, yet natural. I’m fortunate to have always lived where I could be in close contact with my parents; I wouldn’t want it any other way.
As people live longer, they have more “senior” years to need help with. I think we should readily accept helping our “elders” as a natural progression of life’s events if we possible can. I hope my daughters will feel this same way when I start to need looking after. Some days it feels that might be tomorrow. I’d better start training them today.
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Many thanks to “Farm and Dairy” readers and staff who have been so thoughtful and attentive during by mother’s heart surgery and recovery. Many thanks to the Salem Community Hospital and Cleveland Clinic for the wonderful things they are able to do not only for their patients but for the patient’s anxious families as well.
The Cleveland Clinic (another view)
I like to go to the Cleveland Clinic because I get to see my grandma there. You can smell things like medicines, and food depending on when you come. You can see a lot, and I mean a lot. You can see elevators, doctors, rooms, televisions, beds, curtains, skyways and much more. They have beautiful carpet and tile. You can hear the beeping of medical machines and the rolling of wheelchairs and carts. The only thing I don’t like is that it takes a long time to get there. I hope you get to go there too sometime but not because someone is sick.
– Kathie Steeb
Mrs. Evans’ 4th grade
Joshua Dixon School
Columbiana, Ohio
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