Midges Links - My Story
Welcome to Midges Links! I hope it will be an encouragement to you. Please share comments.
My purpose for writing this page is to share some of the lessons I've learned since my life took an unexpected detour, and I became disabled.
Moving Home
My husband and I separated in 2005, and I was finding it difficult to stay in an apartment alone, so I made the decision to move back home to Scarborough to live with my Mom and my
Younger sister, Jayne. Mom had macular degeneration, and was going blind. My sister had moved home to care for her, and I could also help out while my sister was at work in Lewiston.
My sister was a wonderful help to my Mom and I, doing many things that I found difficult to do.
Mom eventually moved to the Maine Veteran’s Home in Scarborough, and I was able to visit her every day. She was proud to be in the Veteran’s Home because she had been a Navy Wave. She received excellent care, and was happy there. My other sister, Karen, also moved back during that time, and eventually had a house built next to my Mom’s. It was nice to have us three girls home. In the meantime, I had another lumbar back surgery, a stage one breast cancer, both knees replaced, and carpal tunnel surgery on both of my wrists. I started walking with two canes to help my balance, and finally progressed to using a walker. I fell often, and had to call 911 to get me up. They came quickly to my rescue with their sirens, lights, an ambulance, and a policeman. After several incidents, I was able to ask for a lift assist, so the sirens and lights were no longer necessary - thank goodness!
09/10/2021
Back Issues
My back issues became recognized in the Summer of 2004. We were moving, and in packing up boxes, I became very lame. I ended up walking with a cane. My primary care doctor
referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. He did some basic tests, and told me that I did have a problem with my lumbar spine, but that I had a more imminent issue with my cervical spine. If I should fall, I would end up being paralyzed. He did surgery on my cervical spine first; then six weeks later, he did surgery on my lumbar spine. I started teaching that year after Thanksgiving.
I taught for the rest of that year and the next year, but it was difficult to keep up with my fifth graders while depending on a cane and teaching from a stool. I retired from teaching in June of 2006 on disability, ending a 27 year career.
14/09/2020