A few months have passed since I wrote my struggle in putting my Dad into hospice care. It's now January, 2013 and he's still perking along. While likely the urinary tract infections are just perched to pounce, I realized, I seriously did not want the death of my father to be due to my decision to not extend his treatment, so I remembered an old urinary tract infection preventative- good old cranberry juice.
Each visit I make I bring 1 gallon of cranberry juice and put it in his refrigerator. The staff at the assisted living are to give Ralph a drink whenever they're in his room- be it in the morning or when helping him with other need. I had watched when he was in the hospital in May that he would drink cold liquids and drinking liquids is important to stave off UTI's. Well, it's working and he made it through Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Next month- in February-Ralph will turn 90 years of age. He still envisions himself being- say 58. He cannot fathom that he will be 90. And so, we continue....
