The New Life

Judy came home from the hospital in the pouring rain on June the twelfth of nineteen sixty-eight. The first several months at home were very difficult for everyone. Claire had been instructed at the hospital on how to exercise Judy's legs to keep them from atrophying. She also learned how to turn her from side to side and to get her up into the wheelchair and many other things that are needed for her care. At night, Judy had to be turned from side to side every two hours and all this work was too much for Claire and we started looking for some help. I took over the night shift and found it very wearing trying to get up every two hours and trying to get some sleep in between. Several people from our church did volunteer and did try to help, but it just did not seem to work out.
After several days we did get some experienced help from the Montgomery County Homemakers who sent us a trained worker for two or three mornings a week. In time other tasks became easier, too. We found that by using an alternating air mattress and the Stryker pad under her feet plus the close attention that Claire gave to her skin care, we could eliminate much of the nighttime work.
Besides the Homemakers help, we were able to hire other helpers to assist Claire on most days for the worst of the morning care. Over the years, we have had many of these workers but it was always a big worry as many were not reliable or would quit without notice or not show up at all. It seemed that we were always looking for or hiring new nurses' aides, as we called them, or training them as Judy's helpers.