Thursday Plaza Jam Schedule in Rockingham 2012

Thunderfest 2012 in Rockingham

Drawing For A New Pull Behind Pig Cooker Sept 24

East Rockingham Men's Club
Drawing For A Pull Behind Pig Cooker
Saturday September 24, 2011 at 12:00 Noon
At East Rockingham Fire Department
Tickets are $1.00 each or 7 for $5.00
Do Not Need to be Present to Win
see any East Rockingham Men's Club Member for Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at Boe's Florist

With Sadness, An Update On My Wife's Condition

June 28, 2011

This update is not written for pity on me, as I have said in the past but for all that read it to say a prayer for my lovely wife as we continue on this unknown journey.

We just got back from an appointment with her neurologist yesterday and the prognosis is not good. Sandra’s symptoms have changed quite a bit since three months ago. When you have discussions with the doctor regarding feeding tubes, hospice, botox shots to relax muscles in your face, etc., it is not encouraging. But steps have to be taken.  

The thoughts and what we are going through below were written on June 24 – before we went to her doctor yesterday.  

Progressive Supranuclea Palsy

To watch my wife declining like this just about puts me in tears. It is so sad.

I read what others have gone through with this disease and the last stages when you have to insert a feeding tube that no one wants. The agony and pain with a decision like that is going to be just about unbearable. My prayer is that my wife never has to go through that stage. She has told me before that she does not want anything like this that will prolong her life in that state. But you read these other accounts other PSP caregivers go through and you just hope and pray you don’t have to make a decision like that.

As of today, she has gotten to the point that I have to do just about everything for her. She can brush her teeth but will leave the rinse water in her mouth for 15 minutes. Her brain just does not tell her body what needs to be done as far as movements. I help her with everything else. She lies around quite a bit. She can’t walk by herself. I have a power chair but she cannot use it because of the sight. She talks but it is so hard to understand her because her words are slurred and she whispers. She will sit up at the breakfast table, eat a little food, and try to read the paper, clip coupons and set there for two to three hours – kind of in a trance. She stares at the ceiling or at something else for long periods of time with no comments. She can’t see well. She has had hallucinations. I have to hold her up at times because she leans to the right. When she is sitting in a chair without sides, or in the bathroom getting dressed, she leans at a 90 degree angle to the right. During the night, she will try to get off the bed and has fallen many times…it can be pretty tough trying to pick her up at times. But I have to most every day.

When you have had a partner for 43 years and you discuss everything and make decisions together, it is really sad to come to this point. Now, I have to make all the decisions – she just cannot help with those at all. Until recently, she would at least try to get on the computer to do something. I helped her about 2 months ago create her a Facebook account but now her eyes are so bad and the fatigue, she hardly ever tries to do anything with the computer.

My wife will set at the table and hold a glass of coke to her mouth for probably 7 or 8 minutes before bringing it back down to the table. I have to feed her pills usually because she will drop them trying to get them in. You can ask her a question and you get no answer. She has started giving me hand signs to help her get her thoughts out. Most of the time, the whispering is so low, I just cannot hear her. The thought process is just not connecting all the time. You can tell her to put the glass down and it’s just like she does not hear you.

I can’t leave her alone. She’s to the point now that she will try to get up and do something or pick something up and if someone is not with her, down she goes. I have to dress her, bathe her, go to the bathroom with her, at times feed her…….but I do it because I love her. She would do the same for me.

I just friended Ronald Ray on Facebook recently, whom I worked with at Maxton, NC, for a little while during my railroad days. He is the brother to Lois Wheeler, one of my bosses at the railroad when I worked in the crew office. And he gave me a note of encouragement from the Bible….”God promised HE would not put more on us than we can bare”.

I truly believe that scripture but just like all humans, you tend to wonder at times. But with God’s help, he will get us both through these trying times.

And, please, say a prayer for Sandra as I am sure she would love to have all the prayers she can get. I did – last night as we lay in bed she asked me to pray for her as we progress to this next step. And I will continue to pray for my wife.

1964 Rockingham High School Birthday Party - We're 65!

Below is your official invitation with all the information.

Will There Be A Celebration in Heaven?

You know - as I sit here and add 2 former classmates to the memoriams on Rockingham Memories, Ruth Davis and Bobbie Goodman Dull - I ponder. Will there be a great celebration in Heaven as the Bible says? Kind of like that old church song "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be"...

I think there will be. I am counting on it! My dad passed away in 1977, my mom is in Hermitage Rest Home in Rockingham - doesn't usually know who I am when I visit, my brother passed away in 2002, all my relatives that have gone on to their heavenly rewards, so to speak and my wife whom I dearly love, is slowly but surely drifting away. 

It is so sad to see so much pain and suffering by so many. Sometimes you just want to sit down and cry.

But - there is hope! I don't have the knowledge of the Bible like a lot of people do but I do know that I am a Christian and God gives us all the strength to get through things we never knew we could. We don't understand all that is going on but God has a plan. 

About all we can do is live our lives like we think God would have us do and put our faith in him and I am sure when this old earth has drawn her last breath, and God calls us ALL home, there WILL be a celebration in Heaven!

Looking For Pat Quick

Received this email from Jeanette Thomason looking for an old friend. Thought I would post it here and see if anyone can help. Here is the request I received from Jeanette:

I have an old friend that I’m looking for: She would have graduated from Rockingham, N.C. High in the year 1958/1959.Her name is or was Pat Quick; did find an Elaine Quick year of graduation 1966, maybe a sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having searched for her many years to no avail; can you help me?

I knew Pat while she visited her Aunt and Uncle in Richmond, Va. in 1956. She was there for the summer and we quickly became friends.

 

Please let me know if you know her.

Thank you for your help

 

Jeanette Toussaint Thomason