Chronic Progressive

This book is the third in a trilogy about having been a well spouse (a term referring to the spouse of someone chronically ill and/or disabled). The trilogy in its entirety depicts, via poetry, the 26 years between my first husband's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and his death. This third book begins the year before nursing home placement, and continues with the ten nursing home years (he ridden with almost complete paralysis, feeding tube, subtle (but less and less so) dementia, trach, and other logistics of his advanced illness -- I ridden with fear, worry (in particular about our four children), loneliness, compassion, determination that my own life not be over), and frustration when my life is not quite as determined as I. ("I must rescue myself / from my life.") It ends "happily" I find new love, but am aware that I will always be a former well spouse.