Living with a Loss
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Fannie, 85, lost her husband of 47 years this past November. Fannie has been completely bedridden since 2008 due to paralysis of her legs from a rare condition called Behcet's disease. Confined to her small room, she feels his loss very profoundly not just as a caretaker, but as her beloved companion and best friend.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
I’ve had this disease my whole life. They call it a Silk Road disease but they really didn’t know what it was at the time. The doctors told my parents I would not live past the age of five.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
I just celebrated my 85th birthday. My first without James. The last meal we had brought in before he passed was Kentucky Fried Chicken. He ate so much we made fun of him. We laughed so hard that day. I had it for my birthday dinner because it reminded me of that day.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
Every year he would go to the Cooper House and get me chocolate turtles for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. We didn’t have kids, but I always called him Daddy and he always called me Mama. This was the last valentine he made me.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
He was a wonderful cook. People would pay him for his sweet potato pie. I can cook, but he loved to do it. I would just make sure he had everything he needed. We try to make his recipes but things just don’t taste as good anymore.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
He taught me to fish. One day he dropped me off and said yell for help if I caught one. He went off with friends and when they got back my bucket was full. He sent me to pick up lunch and where do you think they were fishing when I got back? So, I went to their old spot and caught all the fish there, too.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation
I miss seeing him sitting in his favorite chair, right outside my door. I miss our conversations, and him telling me he loved me. But always when he would leave he would say “see you later, Alligator,” and I would say “after a while, Crocodile.” I miss that the most.
From We're Still Here: Stories of Seniors and Social Isolation