I walked into my parents’ house one day, and the stand that had held at least a dozen lush plants was gone.
“What happened to your plants?” I asked Mom.
“Oh, I got tired of them,” she said.
Mom had always reveled in growing things, especially flowers. For her to be so nonchalant about suddenly ridding her home of them was one of the first signs that something was wrong. A sign I missed.
Next, she all but stopped reading, her favorite pastime. We later realized she couldn’t follow the simplest story line though she’d been a mystery buff for decades. Another time, I discovered her checkbook was in shambles, many entries missing or illegible with nothing totaled. For someone who had worked for years in the banking industry and always taken meticulous care of family finances, this was out of character.
Other signs popped up along the way, the scariest when Mom tried to drive to the library by herself, something she’d done countless times, and got lost on the way home. Fortunately, she ended up at my house, but she knew something was wrong. And so did I.
Still, I found it hard to address these problems with her. Would it hurt her feelings, damage her self-respect? The time came when we could no longer ignore other symptoms. She and I joined forces to find the problem and eventually met the enemy head-on—an undiagnosed but treatable condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Sometimes a physical problem doesn’t present with obvious signs. Being closest to our loved ones, we may notice subtle changes medical professionals wouldn’t see. Don’t hesitate to talk to them about symptoms they may already be concerned about. Encourage them to talk to their doctor or to let you do so.
Signs appear for a reason. Don’t pass them by.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
~ Proverbs 4:7 ESV
Tracy Crump dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness (CrossLink Publishing, 2021). A former intensive care nurse, she cared for her parents and her mother-in-law and understands both the burdens and joys of caregiving. Her devotions have been featured in Guideposts books, The Upper Room, and many other publications, and she has contributed 22 stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul® books. She also conducts writing workshops, freelance edits, and proofreads for Farmers’ Almanac. But her most important job is Grandma to five completely unspoiled grandchildren.
This post is also a good reminder to not assume the worst. Sometimes we put off such conversations because we want to avoid confirmation of the worst-case-scenario that our mind immediately went to. To delay the conversation may cost valuable time in resolving a treatable condition.
Wise words, Shel. I’m sure I’ve done that many a time.
“Signs appear for a reason. Don’t pass them by.” So true, Tracy. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Dianna. I know you’re skilled at this.
This is such important information. Too many times we dismiss signs of impending illness as mere slips in memory that happen to everyone. Thank you for reminding us to be more vigilant!
You’re welcome, Rhonda. Sometimes illnesses present themselves differently than we would think.
Thank you,
yic
Bill
You’re welcome, William.