Replies to '08/01 Extreme Highs and Lows'

and I can't imagine the pain, heartache, raw grief and anger you have felt and suffered following the death of your beloved husband. The fact that he was hospitalized for such brief time periods given his serious brain disorder and other medical problems was incomprehensible yet it happens way too often. Re: the extremely insensitive and cruel remarks that the nurse practioner made to you, I think you should write her a letter and tell her the extra pain she inflicted on you during the worst time of your life. There are definitely some excellent and compassionate professionals in the mental health field but there are many who are not. When my then 14 yr old daughter attempted suicide 6 months after her dad/my husband died of a rare form of heart disease, a prominent psychiatrist  who treated her at the hospital said to me: "How is Mel ever going to get better when you're always around?" I was fighting to save the life of my precious child, who had a serious illness? Would a doctor dare say that to a parent if the child was suffering from cancer??  My grief counselor encouraged me several months later to write a letter to that doctor and I did. The psychiatrist never responded but I hope that she seriously thought about what she said to families in crisis from then on. It helped in my healing process. 

My heart goes out to you and I'm sending you hugs and hope. Grief/loss is the worst pain I have ever felt and it permeates your entire mind, body and soul. Yes, your husband's life mattered--- to you and to everyone who knew and loved him and yes, he needed and deserved better care and treatment than what he got at the VA. . He was truly  fortunate to have such a strong and supportive wife in you. You couldn't save him from this deadly brain disorder but you loved him, stood by him and in the end, that is what truly matters. I would encourage you to find a grief counselor to help you through the journey ahead. My heart goes out to all of you who have lost a loved one to this terrible illness. That will be my worst fear until the day I die.