The Love of My Life Is Gone - Not Forgotten
My husband, Guy Wells, was a man of courage. Since
1984 fought many
battles far beyond what most individuals could have endured. He
fought
each battle with FAITH to the end. For this I thank God. He
touched
the life of everyone he came in conttact with in some way. He was
a
living BLESSING.
After 1996 major changes came about in his health. He went into
kidney
failure and began Dialysis. There were so many complications and
symptoms that were similiar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob-Disease, it was
impossible to recognize it util he was in the final stages.
These are the symptoms I saw;
Jerking....Memory-loss....Earache....Eyesight
failed....Depression....Constipation....Mouth
sores.....Fear....Insomnia....Frequent Pneumonia (12
times)....Hallucinations....Loss of speech....Personality
change....Confusion...Coma.
These were the terms used in the doctors reports:
Slight tremor....Delirim....Memory loss....Stroke
Not oriented....Bacterial infections....confused...
Jerking....Comatose...Myoclonus...Stuttering....
Frequent pneumonia....can't walk....Slurred
speech....Progressive shaking....Movement
disorder....Brain shrinkage.
The first time I knew something was realy was going on, that had
not
been before, was October 13, 1998. After being admitted to the
same
hospital that he had gone to for many years, he became very
confused.
He thought I had taken him to a strange hospital in a town which
had NO
hospital. Even though he could not walk, for unexplained reason
he got
out of bed wandered down the hall to find me. The doctors ended
up
aveing to restrain him to keep him from hurting himself. This was
an
episode as he became himself once again. These episodes became
more
frequent as the disease progressed.
We would talk about these episodes. Some things he could
remember, but
others he could not. I was like he was in another world at times.
The hallucinations also began at theat time. he saw so many
things I
couod never list them all. But some of the things he saw were
trains,
he ought we were riding in an airplane. He saw children singing
in a
choir, a lady in a rodking chair, a creek running beside his bed.
I
asked him many qestions after AI found out something serious was
hapening. He did not tell me the things he had been seeing,
because he
thought I would think he was crazy. I asked him how lo9ng this
had been
ging on, all he could tell me was "for a while". His
attention span
grew very short. It seemed that he could not remember day, time,
places
and at times he did not remember persons. But he always knew me
and his
favorite doctor (Dr. Khan) and his favorite nurse (our neighbor,
Wendy). I thought that very strange.
Eventually, he could not concentrate on TV, which was his
favorite pass
time. Especially
watching the Atlanta Braves. Although he did not see well, he
would
listen and was able to njoy that much. When the Braves did not
interest
him, that definiteoly disturbed me, because he would even ignore
ME for
the BRAVES.. So this was when I knew something very serious was
wrong.
When he was eating he would ask me, "What am I eating"/
In November he
was admitted to the hospital again onl two weeks after the last
hospitalization. He became much worse. e also became unruly at
times.
It was hard for me to lift him and it had become very hard for
medical
personell to work with him. He was certainly not in control of
his
facualities, as his "episodes" were getting more
frequent.
He did manage to have one good weekend withthe children that they
are
able to remember. Thank the Lord!
.
After many doctors came up with dozens of theoies and lot's of
opiions
and some "I think's" a young Neurologist, Dr. Susan
Evans was called in
for a consult. She examined him immediately suspecting CJD. She
was
the fourth Neurologist in 2 months.
After all thr tests, EEG, Spinal Fluid test, MRI and Brain Scan,
she
sat down and explained her findings to both of us. My husband did
not
comprehend all that she had said. I tried later to help him
understand,
but he was already too far into the disease. (she said this). She
said
there was no cure and death was near as he was in the inal stage
of the
diseasse. She discribed each step that would come. And she did
not
miss a single one.
Less than a week later, he failed to recognize me. I was sitting
at
his bedside and I heard him say, "Here I am!" I told
him I didn't call
him.. I waited for a response, but got none. So I said,
"Honey, did you
hear someone call you"? Still no response. Then suddenly he
laughed
out loud. He sat straight up in the bed with the most beautiful
smile on
his face and took a deep breath and said, "Hell"! Then
he laid back
down and shorty thereafter he slipped into a coma.
His eyes remained opened. they were fixed and never responded to
anything the doctors used to determine if he knew what was going
on. I
truly believe that he had a spiritual experience at that moment.
From
that moment on his body fought a battle. He would sling his arms
and
kick his feet until we had to put pillows to keep him from
hurting
himself. It was like the spirit wanted to leave his body and the
body
was fighting to stay.
On Friday morning, after his bath, he seemed to be at peace. No
longer
did he jerk violently. HE WAS SO VERY CALM. All of the children
were
there to be with him. They decided to go down stairs to eat,
since no
one had eaten all day. I told them that I needed to stay, because
WE
needed some "private time", together.
After they left, I took him in my arms and held him close to me.
I
talked to him as if he heard and knew every word that I said. I
told
him it was time to "let go". I assured him that I would
be alrigtht. He
had said many times in the last months that he did not want to
leave me.
I said, "I know you are ready to go and I know how tired
your body is,
you have fought a good fight and now Jesus is waiting for you to
come
home I will be there with you soon, but now is just not my time.
I
still have some things to do. But it's alright for you to go now.
I
Love you and always will".
Gently I laid him back on the pillow and softly placed my fingers
on his
open eyelids and closed them. I kissed his eyes and his lips for
the
last time. This was about 9:30 pm. At 12:54 am the LOVE OF MY
LIFE
went HOME to be with JESUS to suffer no more. Praise the Lord! I
thank
God with all my heart for the blessed time we had together as
one.
Written by Betty Wells
Surfside Beach, SC 29575-4435
Fax: 843-650-1261
E-mail: [email protected]