Margarita Ibarra
In 1998 I became a caregiver for Alterra, I moved back and forth between Reno, Sparks and Las Vegas, Then sometime in 1999 I decided to stay in Las Vegas after meeting Wilma, She seemed coherent enough and just in her wheel chair by the dinner table. We were getting ready to have lunch and I was walking just right passed her when I noticed a look of concern on her face and asked her, "Wilma what are you thinking?", She said "I was just wondering why these sons of b****** wont let me have any pop when I request it!" That is all it took to create a very special bond and from that day forward I became inseparable to her. I went into the Kitchen and asked Ken (the Cook) if there was a reason why Wilma couldn't have a soda (a medical reason), there wasn't so I snuck her in a coke and she was in heaven and happy as could be. She knew that whatever she asked of me she could have. For the first few months we had the same routine, I would wake her up in the morning get her ready for breakfast, eat breakfast, lunch, I would stay over my duty time just so I could have dinner with her and put her to bed. Then on my days off I would drop by to see how she was doing that day. Then the routine became even more so emotional, I was coming in even on my days off just to spend time with her make sure we kept the same routine as when I was working. I wanted to make sure she knew that I was there. She needed me just as I needed her. Her smile, her stories, her complaints and her chuckles were all worth every minute I spent with her. There was a deeper bond than anyone could explain. I loved her then, I love her now, The day she passed my life crumbled. I know she was just the patient so they would say, but to me she was my friend, my family. After her passing I resigned to my position and never again did I care for anyone else. I still mourn for her. Every once in a while I remember with detail our conversations and time spent.
The fact that no matter how much her health deteriorated, she always remembered me, and that to me was a great satisfaction and knowing that I wasn't only her caregiver, I was her friend.
I LOVE YOU WILMA... AND YOU ARE FOREVER IN MY HEART!
The fact that no matter how much her health deteriorated, she always remembered me, and that to me was a great satisfaction and knowing that I wasn't only her caregiver, I was her friend.
I LOVE YOU WILMA... AND YOU ARE FOREVER IN MY HEART!
