Ann,

Thanks for your post. As a survivor, I do not think about caregivers enough. Anyone who takes on caregiving as you and Sue and so many others on this board have done is a saint in my book. It is a thankless job.

Survivrors, especially new survivors, sometimes have a difficult time when they hear someone showing concern for the caregiver. They may feel like they got the rougher end of the deal. Hard to say.

One of the things this board has done for me is to make me more aware of caregiver problems. I have a neighbor who has cancer and has been in and out of the hospital for the last six months. I find myself reminding his wife to care for herself. The other day she showed up at my door because she was making a cake and discovered she was out of eggs. I found myself glad that I could show her the kindness of an egg. Strange.

Take care of yourself and have a Merry Christmas.

Ann:

luckily I saw Sue's post & chastised reply to the post to understand where you are coming from & what you are talking about. As we all know no two strokes are alike neither is caregiving alike. yes agreed in the begining months fighting the insurance company, advocating patients needs all these things are common for all caregivers. but as survivor doing more for himself or herself caregiving differs, & at that time I will take offense to someone calling my hubby my caregiver. please don't get me wrong. I aprreciate all the caregivers who chose to stay by their spouses in their hour of need. but I still think you can not call all the spouses caregivers. you, Sue, Sarah & Jean I can understand being caregivers. yes today my hubby does have to drive me on highways, but just for that fact he is not my caregiver. I make my own decisions. we are team together. I think stroknet is best place to give & receive support. I get so much out of Sue's blogs, I realize what more I can do to improve life of my hubby.

I want to wish you Merry christmas & happy New year

Asha

I am making snow angels for all you caregivers..

I am a survivor that does not need a caregiver now, only for a short time. I count my blessngs.

You all have a bushel fful of hugs from me. when its empty let me know.. I will send more.. there is an un-ending supply.

HUGS (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((oodles of them)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Bonnie

Asha,

Let there be no mistake, I agree with you that all spouses are not caregivers. At some point the spouse may have been a caregiver, however, I think we can all agree that most of the survivors who post here are not in the need for a full time caregiver as Bill and Ray and....you know who I mean. In no way did I want to insinuate that all spouses are caregivers and I give each survivor much, much credit or recovering to self sufficiency!!

Love,

Ann

Ann,

From how I see the message board you reply or make a comment on a topic you feel you can add something or maybe learn something, or as I do, just add conversation as it applies to me in some way, form, or fashion. I put my two cent in no matter who the topic starter is when I got something to add, interject or want to know.

On the other hand I've been on site for so long I know about everybody, but my thoughts are, reply when you feel the need, that's what I do, I don't suppose anyone really cares one way or the other and in many cases people are looking for answers, that's what I give them.

That's like some Bloggers have the comments from others blocked until they approve them. I'm too dumb to see the reason but it doesn't bother me.