FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN
/ Sophia's Choice
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Editorial List
I received a call from my good friend Penelope
today. I always enjoy spending time with her and her
husband, Jim, when I visit the town in which they
live. A more lively, fun and loving couple you
will never find. I looked forward to a night
at a local Italian bistro, alternately laughing and
solving all the problems of the world in one
evening. Penelope called to tell me that
they will not be in town when I visit next week.
The reason is that they will be traveling to
Penelope’s hometown to see her mother and her
mother’s doctors. I have met Penelope’s
mother Sophia and I will tell you that this apple
did not fall far from the tree. At 86, Sophia
will wear out visitors who are decades younger than
her (like me) as she whips around town playing tour
guide. Recently, however, after months of pain
in her side, Sophia found out that she will soon
need to consider having hip replacement surgery. The
reason that Penelope and Jim are flying home is
their concern over what happened when Sophia’s two
sisters had surgeries necessitating the use of
anesthesia. Both had mild forms of dementia
which Penelope, Jim and Sophia are convinced became
more severe after these surgeries. This condition
now has an official name, which is post-operative
cognitive dysfunction. It is sometimes called POCD.
In so many cases, family caregivers have to make
these important decisions without the benefit of
being able to involve their loved ones; but in this
case, Sophia will have the final say. Undergo the
surgery and potentially risk her sharp cognition
(just try and win a game of Gin Rummy when she is
playing) or continue to live with the constant pain
in her side. I leave it to this family to
exhibit all the traits of being fearless caregivers;
research and keep asking questions until they are
satisfied with the answers, and don’t take the easy
answers at face value.
Because, when all is said and done, even though
they are working together to ensure that it is an
educated one, it is still Sophia’s choice.
Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com
