A wobbly start to the day saw my current charge (I earn my living as a live-in carer these days) slip and fall over in the shower... I've been there before, of course, but it never gets any less heartstopping. Fortunately, lovely Kitty is none the worse for wear barring a small bruise on her left knee and a large bumpy one on her right shin. The 85 year old has a will of steel - once she was safely sitting on the toilet wrapped up in towels, I had to sit down on the bathroom floor and breathe til my wobblies passed while she serenely encouraged me from her perch. Kitty has that amazing British resilience I've often observed in her generation of 2nd World War survivors and true to form just dusted herself off and is spending the rest of the day getting on with things. This follows a disastrous few days involving 2 (!) escaped catheters and a late night TIA with accompanying visit from emergency paramedics. And its not that she's forgotten all this - despite her severe cerebro vascular disease, so far the woman retains every one of her marbles. I've been here nearly 3 months and knowing her well enough now to be more aware of the fears she keeps firmly in their place, under the surface, only makes me admire her bravery more.
As the daughter of one of my other recent charges says, "Growing old... its certainly not for wimps."
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