Bruno's Stroke

 Sunday, July 18, 2021

As Arianna and I were rushing to get out of the house and drive to O'Hare, Sharon was attentive to the fact that Bruno was not quite right. He lost considerable mobility on his right side and for a time he became more disoriented than usual. We both imagined he'd had a stroke. Three days after his 99th birthday. A stroke . . . .

After I returned from O'Hare, we took Bruno to St. Joe's Hospital. He was resistant. Of course. We spent hours and hours at the hospital and in the end there was no firm diagnosis. 

99 Years Old

 Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Today was Bruno's 99th birthday. Bruce was on town. Lester and Myra, Greg and Barb, and Linda come to the house for cake. Naturally Arianna was in town too.

It's been increasingly difficult caring for Bruno. Sharon spends hours upon hours sitting with him at the dining room table fitting the pieces of a puzzle together that -- in contrast to even a year ago -- Bruno cannot manage on his own.

He's on and out. By that I mean he may or may not know who's talking to him. Today was no different and it was painful to watch him interact with his brother and his son. 

But . . . it was not a bad day. We opened gifts, and joked, and had cake. 

It was a day to celebrate.

 The two brothers: Bruno and Lester.

Linda and Barb putting candles on the cake.

Happy Birthday to you . . . .

Time to open gifts.