Another holiday season with illness

After enduring the ups and downs and final passing of my father just five days before Christmas last year, now I’m facing my mom facing another major surgery right around Christmas. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a sentimental holiday person, but you would have to be blind and deaf not to notice all of the holiday decorations and music around every corner.

Since I’ve been through this before, I know a bit of what to expect. And that’s the unexpected. You have to be flexible when you have an ill relative. This year, at least I don’t have the stress and guilt about missing time from my job. I no longer have one, for better or for worse. But as far as holiday celebrations go, I hope to make it back home for awhile before Mom needs her surgery. But I also know that I may get a call at any moment ushering me back to be with Mom. So Christmas will be celebrated ASAP.

When illness strikes and you are the primary caregiver, you must be willing to shift priorities. A holiday is just another day. One has to focus on the here and now, and what is best for their loved one who is ill.