A carer’s experiences of living with a mental illness – SallyI have been a carer for mum for almost one year. I am willing to look after her. My brother and sisters put her in a nursing home. I went to visit her at Carlisle Nursing Home. My mother Mele said to me "please could you take me home?" I replied "Yes." Since then I am happy to take care of my mum. I do the best for my mum. I took her everywhere, by train, bus, even boat rides. As for me, I am very fit to take care of mum. Even though I have a disability, I managed. My mum Mele was a very hard person to look after - never appreciate, criticise and label. But she got a good sense of humour. Mele likes to do embroidery, crocheting, weaving, etc. She has eleven children. Myself, Sally, is the fourth eldest. After I have been a carer for mum, my asthma is getting worse. I never experience shortness of breath in my life. Before I am only using a Ventolin inhaler. I can’t walk a long distance with my asthma. I used current treatment Ventolin-Atravent-Seretide (Topmyacin on Neberliser every other day). I rely on taxis most of the time to take me to appointments, doctors, meetings, support groups, urban network, huffers and puffers, etc. As I look back on my life, I did a wonderful job caring for mum. I got a wheelchair for her, hearing aid appointments, HBF appointments, dentist appointments, doctors appointments, hospital appointments. Mele has a yearly ambulance just in case of an emergency, $27 a year. Even though mum is a hard person to look after, I still loved her with all my heart, mind and soul. She has a beautiful smile. She passed away one month ago. I miss her. |
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