To Palmer with Love
Contributed by Marilyn Bennett
Isn’t interesting to see how quickly one's life can be turned around. I have to admit. I was somewhat flummoxed by the events that overtook our lives in mid September of 2022. I am writing this to thank the many people in Palmer who stepped up to help my partner and I during our short time of urgent need. We have thanked most of you individually, but I want the world to know what wonderful people live in Palmer, Alaska.
I have had severe eye problems since the mid 90's when I lost all but the peripheral vision in my left eye. Then when we moved to Alaska in 2017 I began to have trouble in my right eye. I went to a retinal specialist and learned that the macular degeneration in my eye could be kept under control by getting injections in my eye. I started getting these shots every eight weeks then decided it was time to have the cataracts removed from my eyes to determine if I would be able to see well enough to drive comfortably. Since we moved to Alaska, I have not driven more than 2 miles from home. So my partner drives 90% of the time. After the cataract operations, I picked up my new glasses on Friday, the 16th of September.
Then Saturday morning, as if on cue, my partner Doug's back pain became too severe for him to stand. I called my daughter and she lent me a pair of crutches that were left from a ski accident. Then Monday, I had to drive to Wasilla for my heart rehab exercises. I’m doing this because I had to have a stent put in my heart a few months back. It was a scary drive for me because I was not used to driving far, let alone in Alaska. Then Doug took a turn for the worst. I reached out to a friend to find out where I could get a wheelchair. He told me I could rent a wheelchair at the Turn A Leaf Thrift Store, in Wasilla. I drove out there and It turned out I could have the wheelchair "rent free" for a year! I was amazed and very grateful.
On Wednesday Doug had an appointment at his neurosurgeon. We used both the wheelchair and the crutches to get him into the car. After the appointment we came home and were supposed to have an appointment to get x-rays the following Monday. He could no longer sleep in his bed and so spent the time in the recliner in the living room. His pain increased during the week and so by Sunday we both realized I could no longer care for him. I called 911 and they came with an ambulance and took him to the hospital. At the hospital they x-rayed him and his neurosurgeon decided he should have surgery on Tuesday, the 27th of September. The surgery was a success! He was referred to a rehabilitation facility until he could walk well enough to go home.
The next problem was that I was due to leave the country October 10th and would be gone for two weeks. I had to get the house ready for winter as well as find someone to look after the house while I was gone. Between trips to the hospital, trips to Wasilla for my heart rehab, figuring out how to winterize both barbecue grills for the winter, putting the lawn mower away and taking all the hanging plants into the house my hands were full. We had so many people offer to help us that I feel I could spend the rest of my life giving back and still owe more. A good neighbor looked after our house while I was gone and also visited Doug at the rehabilitation facility.
When I returned from my trip, the house was in great shape and winter had arrived. I then settled back into my routine of visiting Doug at the rehabilitation facility and resuming my own exercise at the heart rehab facility. They have been monitoring my heart after I had the stent put in while I exercise. This is to try and increase the amount of exercise my heart can stand in my day to day life.
Doug came home on Veterans Day, November 11th. He was doing so well, tooling around the house with a walker that we were able to return the wheelchair so it could be given to someone who had a greater need. We are now at a new normal and it works for both of us. I am so happy to have someone to cook for, as I didn't do well just cooking for myself. Doug is back to writing at his computer and working to get stronger. Thanks to our Palmer friends, we weathered a tough time really well and learned a lot about adapting to whatever life has in store.
Thanks again Palmer, I am full of gratitude for this wonderful community.