How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver

By Abbie Johnson Taylor

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462067954

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

Book preview

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