How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver
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About this ebook
In January of 2006, Abbie Johnson Taylors husband suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side. After months of therapy in a nursing facility, he returned home in September of that year. Although he still had little use of his left arm and leg, it was hoped that through outpatient therapy, he would eventually walk again. In January of 2007, he suffered a second stroke that wasnt as severe, but it was enough to impact his recovery. In August of that year, his therapy was discontinued because he showed no progress. He has never walked since.
The first five poems tell the story of how Taylor found her husband when he suffered his first stroke, detail events in the first few months afterward, and describe Taylor and her husbands reactions. The rest of the poems in the first part were inspired by Taylors experiences while caring for her husband. Covering such topics as dressing, feeding, toileting, their relationship, and his computer, they often provide a humorous outlook. Some poems are from the husbands point of view. Poems in the next two parts cover childhood memories and other topics. The last section of poems was inspired by Taylors fifteen years of experience as a registered music therapist in a nursing home before marrying her husband.
Abbie Johnson Taylor
Besides My Ideal Partner and The Red Dress, Abbie Johnson Taylor is the author of a novel and two poetry collections. She's currently working on a third novel. Her work has appeared in Magnets and Ladders, The Writer's Grapevine, and other journals and anthologies. She is visually impaired and lives in Sheridan, Wyoming. For six years, she cared for her late husband, Bill, totally blind and partially paralyzed by two strokes. Please visit her website at http://www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com
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How to Build a Better Mousetrap - Abbie Johnson Taylor
Contents
Acknowledgments
The Day My Husband Had a Stroke
Hemorrhage
A Secret Sadness
Dependent
Stroke
The Bedroom
Bliss
Timber!
Solitude
Dear Bill
From a Husband’s Perspective
Before I Leave
Recumbent
While Walking Home
Awaiting The Return of the Better Half
Before and After
Urgent!
The Sun Shines When You Laugh
Reassurance
When You’re Not Here
Awakening
Time Travel
Spring’s Hopelessness
Things I’ll Never Tell You
Ending The Day
I Dream of Being Rich
Turning Point
On Being Three
On Top of The House
Highland Adventure
A Memorable Stop in Colorado
Socks
In the Garden
Junior High
The Music Room
Sock Ceremony
Leaf Disposal
Winter
Coming Home
Remembering an Irish Setter Long Gone
Departure
Speeding
Belch!
The Blue Doorknob
A Spring Constitutional
On A Summer Evening
I Admire My Handiwork
Breakfast
Inside A Sandwich
An Italian Meal without Wine
Ode to Dr. Pepper
Dear Julie
Ducks on the Sidewalk
A Story After Noon
On an Adventure with Her Grandkids
The Bark
I Dream of Murder at Sunrise
In a Pillow Case
Florida’s Song
Aprons
Aging
A Losing Battle
Reta’s Song
Fred
Who’s Coming Next?
I Remember
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge the publications in which the following poems appeared,: The Bedroom,
and Dear Bill
in Peninsula Poets: Timber!
Awaiting the Return of the Better Half,
and While Walking Home
in Wordgathering: Socks
in Southwest Women’s Poetry Exchange: Reta’s Song
in Serendipity Poets Journal, Coming Home
in Voicings from the High Country, and Ducks on the Sidewalk
and A Story After Noon
in Distant Horizons.
I would like to thank the following employees of the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center for their help with this project: Bunni Ruby, our caseworker with the in-home services program, for inspiring this book’s title and Nancy McKenzie, volunteer coordinator, for the photo of me and my husband on the