Crummy times turn to laughter

My last update on Jeff was a downer, so I thought I’d share something that tickles me.

Jeff is already thinking about Christmas and has started to shop. Granted his shopping is done online, but he has started to accumulate a few gifts for our children and our son’s girlfriend, Brittany.

Since dx in December 2020, Jeff has endured a slew of various scans, radiation, and tests. CT scans, bone scans, MRIs, PET scan, and repeat ad nauseam.

As Jeff continues to struggle with leg weakness it impacts his mobility and balance. As a result, dressing himself has become a laborious chore. Simply putting on socks/shoes can sometimes prove to be impossible and, while it makes him grossly uncomfortable, he has allowed our daughter and myself to help him get his socks and shoes on.

For every single scan and some radiation and tests, Jeff is required to disrobe and don a gown and the grippy hospital socks.

Although the hospital requires patients to wear the grippy socks, Jeff ignores them. He can’t easily put them on and he’s certainly not going to ask a nurse/tech for help.

After Jeff’s last scan we were in the car and leaving the hospital. Although he was sitting, Jeff managed to rummage around in his pocket and he pulled out an unopened packet of grippy socks.

He waved the socks in the air. As they flapped back and forth Jeff enthusiastically stated, “I got me some more socks!!!”

I questioned, “I see that … are you going to add them to your collection?”

Jeff proudly exclaims, “Nope! Stocking stuffers!!! I should have enough by now that the kids and Brittany can all get 2 pair each!”

The really funny thing to me is that I have no doubt everyone will get at least 1 pair.

Although Jeff intends the gesture to be funny, I think later on down the road, the socks will become a treasured remembrance of Jeff making the best of things during a really crummy time.

I secretly hope I get a pair too.

#teamjeffgallagher

Stephanie - A couple of thoughts from a guy who's very independent wife had 4 joint replacements. Sounds like Jeff's issues are similar in some ways.

https://marsmedsupply.com/mars-wellness-deluxe-molded-sock-aid-donner-foam-grip-handles-31-adjustable-cords-compression-sock-helper-stocking-slider-elderly-senior-pregnant-diabetics/
Not sure how this sock aid works with gripper socks or short men's socks but covered all the socks my wife normally wears.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/extra-long-shoe-horn/130852533
The extra long shoe horn really helps with many shoes and sneakers.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/bulk-buys-oc235-8-pick-up-reaching-tool-pack-of-8/836685842?athbdg=l1700
Best way to pick up a dropped sock or keys or ...

These worked wonders for my wife and were recommend at her first joint replacement. I also built a 3" wood riser for her chair that made a big difference getting out of the chair. She loans all this stuff and walkers to friends who have joint replacements.

The HurryCane is another good item for balance problems, my 94 year old Dad (who has issues similar to Jeff) now has the one my wife used. They fold up and are easy to get in a car without clubbing someone. Glad to hear that his spirits are up

Stephanie -

God bless Jeff for having the resourcefulness and the courage to use humor to lift some of the weight from the situation: both from himself, from you, and from his other loved ones!

Well done, Jeff!

That's something that the trials and tribulations of the illnesses that we are all facing cannot take away from us, if we choose to hang on to it: the ability to grasp the humor of a situation, and to use it to shine a little bit of light on an otherwise dark day!

And since it's Friday (joke day around here), here are some sock jokes (some of them about hospital socks!) to hopefully lighten the day even more!

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=%22hospital+sock+jokes%22&qpvt=%22hospital+sock+jokes%22&tsc=imagehovertitle&form=igre&first=1

"The children were nestled ... all snug in their beds ...
While visions of SOCKS ... and SUGARPLUMS ... danced in their heads!"

C•Y•C•L•O•N•E ~~~ # Iowa State University