Heads up: I know I normally write about marketing, brand, etc. but this ain’t that. It’s a personal essay on the concept of frailty and the importance of exercise.
In early January of 2017, my 84 year-old dad had to go into the hospital for an intestinal issue. And though the surgery went well, he was never to leave the hospital. Why? In a word, frailty.
While recovering from that surgery, he was advised by doctors that it was almost certain this would recur and that when it did he would have to get a colostomy bag. Or, he could opt for another surgery while in the hospital that would likely mitigate that need.
Needless to say, despite my and my brother’s protestation, my stubborn dad opted for the second surgery. No way was he going to have a goddamned colostomy bag.
About dozen or so years ago, my mother was diagnosed with dementia and early onset Alzheimers. For a while, medication made here even out. In fact, the best experience of having her for a mother were during those first few years of medication. They travelled, he took care of her. Until she started to decline further. From that moment on my dad tried to take care of her in their home. Needless to say that was draining on my dad’s health but, stubborn as he was, he refused any help…for a while.
