- Feb 17, 2014
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When I began our adventure into having a small flock of chickens, my Wife and I had discussed it and were all in.
It was a labor of love and she delighted in not only helping take care of them, but she helped paint the coop and run as well.
Regrettably, later in the year, to be precise, October 21st, 2014, my Wife was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, which had metastasized to the bone.
She had been complaining about back pain, but we were never able to do much more than visits to the chiropractor due to her losing her job and her benefits during the recession.
Thus began my near 5+ year experience with being a caregiver. It was my honor and out of my love for her that I took on the task.
Helping care for my Mother prepared me for it, so it came naturally.
In the process, I kept up with the birds, regarding feeding, watering, etc.., but everything else suffered from lack of my ability to do more.
I work full time, with a 45 minute commute, was getting up at 4:30 am to tend to my elderly Mother next door, my Wife and then going to work.
When I returned home each day I was completely exhausted, but I did the essential chores and made sure everyone was tended to.
Once we got her on Medicaid, my Wife, Susie, reacted well to the gene specific infusion therapy and recovered to the point were she at least could somewhat function.
We spent the next 5 years dealing with bone fractures due to the cancer, chronic pain and to the extent that we could, as the song goes, we "Lived like you were dying".
We cherished every moment and thought we had time, but unfortunately the good Lord had other plans.
While attempting to recover from a second surgery on a fractured left femur, Susie began to show signs of confusion. At first I thought it might be from an infection, but an MRI revealed that the cancer she had fought so bravely for 5 years, had metastasized to her brain.
She had one decent day where I got to explain to her why she had been confused, tell her I loved her and that I would see her in Heaven some day.
The following day, January 16th, 2020, Susie passed away peacefully.
I am thankful that she suffers no more and I believe she smiles down from Heaven.
I am now finding out what losing a loved one that I cared after for so long feels like. My very purpose in life has gone away and for the first time in 19 years, I feel loneliness. I feel as though I am wandering blindly in the darkness.
I am years behind in chores, upkeep of the property, the home and even myself.
Grief has so enveloped me that I lack the motivation to do much of anything and I'm $25,000 in debt on top of it.
Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do to relieve myself of the burden of five chickens?
I would gladly give up the coop that we worked so hard on to see them go to a good home.
We had originally intended to add onto the flock early on, but when Susie's health went downhill, I decided not to.
I need to tend to myself and attempt to recover from the horrible nightmare of losing the love of my life and there just isn't enough of me to go around anymore.
It was a labor of love and she delighted in not only helping take care of them, but she helped paint the coop and run as well.
Regrettably, later in the year, to be precise, October 21st, 2014, my Wife was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, which had metastasized to the bone.
She had been complaining about back pain, but we were never able to do much more than visits to the chiropractor due to her losing her job and her benefits during the recession.
Thus began my near 5+ year experience with being a caregiver. It was my honor and out of my love for her that I took on the task.
Helping care for my Mother prepared me for it, so it came naturally.
In the process, I kept up with the birds, regarding feeding, watering, etc.., but everything else suffered from lack of my ability to do more.
I work full time, with a 45 minute commute, was getting up at 4:30 am to tend to my elderly Mother next door, my Wife and then going to work.
When I returned home each day I was completely exhausted, but I did the essential chores and made sure everyone was tended to.
Once we got her on Medicaid, my Wife, Susie, reacted well to the gene specific infusion therapy and recovered to the point were she at least could somewhat function.
We spent the next 5 years dealing with bone fractures due to the cancer, chronic pain and to the extent that we could, as the song goes, we "Lived like you were dying".
We cherished every moment and thought we had time, but unfortunately the good Lord had other plans.
While attempting to recover from a second surgery on a fractured left femur, Susie began to show signs of confusion. At first I thought it might be from an infection, but an MRI revealed that the cancer she had fought so bravely for 5 years, had metastasized to her brain.
She had one decent day where I got to explain to her why she had been confused, tell her I loved her and that I would see her in Heaven some day.
The following day, January 16th, 2020, Susie passed away peacefully.
I am thankful that she suffers no more and I believe she smiles down from Heaven.
I am now finding out what losing a loved one that I cared after for so long feels like. My very purpose in life has gone away and for the first time in 19 years, I feel loneliness. I feel as though I am wandering blindly in the darkness.
I am years behind in chores, upkeep of the property, the home and even myself.
Grief has so enveloped me that I lack the motivation to do much of anything and I'm $25,000 in debt on top of it.
Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do to relieve myself of the burden of five chickens?
I would gladly give up the coop that we worked so hard on to see them go to a good home.
We had originally intended to add onto the flock early on, but when Susie's health went downhill, I decided not to.
I need to tend to myself and attempt to recover from the horrible nightmare of losing the love of my life and there just isn't enough of me to go around anymore.