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Two Men And An iPad

October 7, 2011 by The Unnatural Mother Leave a Comment

My 78-year-old father has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for over 38 years.

Two decades ago, he had a pulmonary embolism that almost killed him. He walked.. no, he was wheeled out of the hospital – never to walk again. At the time he might not have been able to walk, stand, tie his shoes or brush his teeth but he could dial the phone, talk, think, argue about politics just like any other old geezer and read, read and read. 

My 72-year-old mom has been caring for my dad for nearly four decades now. Not only has she helped him brush his teeth, dress and go through the motions of daily life, she also took control of the family finances, general house maintenance and the needs of her five daughters.

As the years passed, my father’s MS progressed and the simple things were gone forever: no more dialing the phone, going to the bathroom on his own and no more reading a book.

My mom couldn’t manage it all; the simple things that my dad lost were also the things that got pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Holding a book for my father wasn’t as important as balancing a checkbook, scheduling a neurologist appointment or making sure that the home health aide would arrive on time.

My father hasn’t read a book in over 15 years.

This past summer on our family’s annual vacation, my sisters and I gave my father his birthday present…an iPad.

Embracing the iPad and the technology like a teenager, my father started to read a novel.

What was once lost was now found.

Within 30 minutes, my dad called me over. I leaned in and he said:

“Deanna, I don’t know how to thank you.”

I cried my eyes out.

Thank you, Steve Jobs.

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About The Unnatural Mother

The name "The Unnatural Mother" came to Deanna a little over eight years ago when her first son was born. She was told that her maternal instincts would kick in as soon as the baby came flying out of her vajayjay. Eight years later, a ton of gray hair, and Deanna is still waiting for those maternal instincts to kick her in the ass! In the meantime, she writes, runs, and manages the stress of working full time, spaghetti on the ceiling, a dumped out fish bowl, a lizard, two active boys, being a wife to an incredible husband who busts her chops - daily, which of course, leaves her no time to clean the house. To catch more on how Deanna tries to get it all done without completely failing visit her at The Unnatural Mother, www.theunnaturalmother.com. Twitter love: @UnnaturalMother
Deanna

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