The Beatles sang it best and it applies to so many dear friends and my loving family. I am thankful to everyone that is helping Heather during her journey.
When she was released from the hospital, with the PICC line, I was able to be at her apartment with her for her first visiting nurse appointment. It was overwhelming to watch the nurse explain the procedures required to care for the PICC line (having a sterile environment, flushing the line, injecting antibiotics, changing the dressing, protecting it when showering). I wished at that moment that I could have stayed with her longer and help her adjust to this "thing" attached to her body.
This is when the script says, "Cue the friends." Heather's amazing friends were there for her. They sat with her, they cooked for her, they laughed with her, they let her cry, they went to the store for her, and they helped with every day chores.
Heather is a very private and extremely independent person. It is hard for her to ask for and accept help. The beautiful thing is that she never had to ask for help. People just did it.
These were the same friends that accompanied her to numerous ER visits prior to her Lyme diagnosis and sat with her. It made it a bit easier to realize that so many loving and caring people can put others needs before their own. For that I am eternally grateful.
As for my amazing family, they were there for Heather and they were there for me. My parents had the double whammy - worrying about a daughter and granddaughter at the same time. Not an easy task. I am blessed. There is nothing better than being able to pick up the phone and call your parents.
As for my friends, I got by with a LOT of help from my friends.
"Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends (I wouldn't dare paraphrase the Beatles)
Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends"
"Lyme disease is a highly complex disease....it affects every person differently and to different severities. Diagnosis is not simple, treatment is not simple, and the Lyme patient struggles with trying to fight to get their life back and at the same time not complain too much so others don't get frustrated with them. It takes an immensely strong person to battle this disease. And doing it alone is often not an option"
