Updates: “Needs Encouragement” Responds

After reading Wendy’s response and all the comments to my original letter, I got the courage to ask for help. I contacted a very large church just down the road. And by large, I mean that when I give directions I say, “Go past the church that looks like a football stadium.” My husband and I met with a director there and found they have a program that picks up disabled and elderly once a week and they spend the day there with activities, interaction, various programs and even some mild physical therapy. They have health aides on staff, and everyone is separated by age, and they eat lunch together and even have down time just to relax.

We discussed with them the fact that we had a hard time accepting charity and when my husband’s musical background came up, we discovered we could trade his very large drum kit, which he will never play again, for a guitar and lessons all from the church. The director then contacted a home cleaning company that discounts to the disabled, which we could afford with just a few sacrifices, and arranged for us to get our home cleaned once a week while my husband is at the program.

So last night I came home after his first day to a clean place and a husband that could not stop smiling and talking! I cannot begin to tell you how incredible it felt for him to have something to talk about besides the four walls around us. He met people, chatted up a storm, learned his first chord and laughed most of the day away.

When I wrote you, I asked for encouragement, and boy did I ever get it. I want you, and all your commenters, to know you really, really do make a difference. My life is better and my wonderful disabled husband’s life is better because you all cared to share your encouragement with me. I have taken other suggestions from your readers like making lists, setting aside time for myself and having heart-to-heart talks with our boys. Life is getting better, and you all are the reason.