24 Hours On: We Have a Clear Plan, Need a New School Bag, and Definitely NO Air Bag

Before I talk about the very positive action we’ve taken after a terrible fall about 24 hours ago, I have to share two funny stories that kept us laughing yesterday. I have my daughter’s permission to tell the first one, and the second one speaks for itself. Sometimes the strangest things help ease enormous stress.

Funny Story #1: The Smoothie Incident

About 30 minutes after I posted my “Strike 2” message yesterday, I made a smoothie – mango, banana, yogurt, tahini, honey – and was pretty stressed. I sat at the kitchen table and managed to spill about a quarter of the cup straight into the open school bag of my almost-16-year-old daughter. Disaster. I grabbed antiseptic wipes and kitchen tissues and tried my best to clean it – wiping down the calculator, pencil case, school books, etc. I really tried.

I meant to tell her, but with everything going on, it got missed. I realized what had happened when she was already on the school bus. I explained that I had filled her bag with a vomit-like but absolutely-not-vomit mango-smelling yogurt drink. She was not happy. I think my fall just about held her back from full outrage – and we laughed about it (ish). Tomorrow, as promised, she’s getting a new bag and everything in it. She had to throw the old one out because, clearly, in 30-degree heat, yogurt doesn’t do good things. Anyway, it gave us a great memory and took the edge off a very stressful day.

Funny Story #2: The Human Air Bag

Two friends sent me details of a $1,000 “human air bag” product designed to protect people from falls. One of them followed up and found a review video that is truly hysterical. I mean, it looks like something between a wearable life raft and a malfunctioning parachute.
👉https://youtu.be/ehl_L0MvQHY?si=5PnWwMVIM6A6_rIY

It quickly convinced me not to go that route. So, no air bag – but a total commitment to be 100× more careful.

Back to the Plan

I was very, very scared and decided we had to spring into action and make a plan. Thirty years of working in the incredibly agile world of Mergers and Acquisitions has prepared me to pivot – or even do a full 180-degree turn – when needed.

Choking

We met with our friend, a Speech Therapist and Swallowing Expert, and discussed a diagnostic process. I was insistent that we must execute a complete change immediately, because choking is the biggest cause of death in PSP. She saw how even soda water or seltzer causes discomfort for me.

So, out goes the careful diet set up with a PD-trained dietitian. Objective 1 – and the only one – is preventing choking.

In comes soft, thick, non-sticky food: tahini, purees, protein smoothies, soft scrambled eggs, shepherd’s pie, and soft chicken (no more chicken breast) with lots of gravy. We’re going to order thickeners for drinks, but for now I’m having hot drinks with honey – sipped slowly, so they’re lower risk.

Also in: eating slowly, not multitasking, sitting up/leaning forward, and letting food digest properly.

Also in: EMST back to daily use, LifeVac ordered, and lessons planned on first aid.

Falling

The second major risk. We’re trying to get the renovation finished as quickly as possible so I can move to a disabled-equipped bedroom and bathroom downstairs. Until then, I’m not taking a single step without the walker or cane and will be as deliberate as the SAS on a night mission. Every step matters.

Truth is, I fell twice more yesterday – but in much less serious situations. Still, I have a lot of work to do.

Pain & Recovery

I had acupuncture and am feeling a lot better. Still incredibly grateful I got away with a very, very lucky near miss.

Life

This evening, my wife and I sat down to fish pie – which I haven’t eaten in five years because it has milk and potatoes. We were actually able to take a deep breath.

I’m a person of faith, and I’ll treat these two very near misses as reminders from upstairs about how careful I must be. I can’t stop the progression of PSP, but I can mitigate some of the challenges. I’m onto it.

Thank you to everyone for the help, advice, and comments. It seems some of you are enjoying – or at least appreciating – my writing, so I’ll continue… and now I’m going to bed.