Update - Sudden Decline In Ability To Walk

As I posted two months ago, my DW who is in MC rapidly lost her ability to walk. We tried getting a sample to check for a UTI but were unsuccessful. To complicate this decline an outbreak of norovirus raced through the facility about infecting residents (including DW) and staff shortly after she stopped walking. I was determined to get her up and moving again so I enlisted family and friends to help me walk her with two person support a few times a day. After a couple of weeks I was able to walk her alone using a gate belt. Then I was able to get a physical therapist twice a week and a personal trainer 2-3 times a week to work with her on walking. Over the last two months she has continued to gradually improve to where now I can walk with her just holding her hand. Most important she is now able to get up and dance during music activities which make her happy and me very happy.

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This past week DW has experienced a rapid decline in her ability to walk. As I have mentioned in previous post DW loves music and dancing. Last Tuesday we were dancing to a televised Elvis concert but each day since then here ability to stand independently or walk has noticeably declined on a daily basis. When I went to visit this morning she was in a wheelchair, the MC staff told me that when they got her up this morning she could not stand on her own. I attempted to get her up walking but after 10 or 15 feet I needed to get her back in the wheelchair. She has been in early stage 7 for a while and I knew this day would come but the transition was so rapid it shocked me.

DW has not recognized me as her husband for several years but was always willing to dance when I put on music. I have felt for sometime that dancing was one of the last activities we could enjoy together and now it’s gone. Once again Alzheimer’s has ripped my heart out and made me breakdown and cry.😪