Connections
Your brain has become a sieve.
Words I speak sift through it.
‘It’s time to eat, I say.
‘Come to the table.’
You look toward the sound of my voice…
Unknowing, unthinking, unmoving.
Your eyes are still blue,
Your mouth opens and closes,
Your body is whole,
But – your mind is a sieve.
Only a clump of childhood memories cling within.
Neurotransmitters fail,
Leaving brain cells unconnected’ the doctor has explained
‘Neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques,
Atrophied cells,’ were words used
To mask the fact
That your brain has become a sieve.
I try again. Placing my face close to yours,
Slowly, clearly I send the words to you,
‘Come to lunch’.
Once again these words sift through.
Resorting to the only language left between us,
My arms reach out for you, enfold you.
Your body does not forget.
Your arms remember.
They respond with a desperate embrace,
And you follow me.
~ Betty Wiley
April 6, 1991
After serving as a public school teacher, Betty Wiley cared for her husband Lawrence Wiley for eight years before he died of Alzheimer's disease. Lawrence was a veteran of World War II and a corporate attorney in western Michigan before early retirement was thrust upon him due to his illness. The copyright for "Connections" is owned by the estate of Betty Wiley, and the poem has been published with their permission.
I had an interesting conversation with an elderly gentleman this morning. He called with an interest in long-term care insurance for himself and his wife. As a retiree of General Motors, he will be losing all of his employee benefits.
And he’s not the only one. How very sad that now people such as this gentleman, who is in his early 80's and his wife who is the same age, who have life threatening health problems, now find themselves without health benefits of any kind.
This once again reinforces the fact that we should not and cannot count on anyone but ourselves to look out for our health, wealth and well being.
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