The Georges in Peru

After my mom died a year and a half ago I thanked my sister Carolyn for doing the majority of caring for her.  I used the word 'burden' and she quickly corrected me, "It wasn't a burden.  I was the lucky one.  I got to spend time with her."  At the time I thought it was a great tribute to my mom:  Her children saw it as a privilege to take care of her during her dying days.  I now know even better what she meant.  I've received a lot of emails commending me for stopping most of my responsibilities and dedicating my time to taking care of  Amy.  That comment initially surprised me.  My initial thoughts have been: "Well, of course.  I signed up for 'In sickness or in health'," or "Did I have a choice?"  I guess one sees the statistics that up to 40% of spouses are abandoned in times like this and one realizes that we have a choice, but the other choice is reprehensible.  As a missionary, I probably am more able to make this choice since people still support us even though I'm not 'working' full time at the moment.  I suppose most others can't just quit their jobs to take care of their spouses and still pay the bills.  Being a physician helps, though there isn't much that I'm doing that non-medical people couldn't do.  I probably have a higher tolerance to seizures and vomit and I don't have to ask someone how much the next dose of pain meds should be.  I have a thin spouse.  If she were 200 pounds I wouldn't be able to care for her well.  And being healthy myself makes carrying her possible and stamina gained from marathon running helps me to change bedding at 2 am.  Our hope of a painless eternity with Christ makes being even-keeled emotionally possible.  

So I guess I am lucky.  I can spend this time with Amy when any one of these variables could make it so I couldn't do it.  I'm the lucky one.  I get to spend time with her.