HI I am Chris. 63 (almost 64) year old full time carer for my Husband who is 69. We’ve been together 27 years and Civil Partnership 16 years ago.
We worked together for 15 years in a small private medical practice we owned, but after G had his stroke at New Year 2022, we had to close down the business very quickly and lost the investment and any value in potentially selling it as a going concern due to time constraints.
We live in a nice house in the countryside, which is lovely, but means we are reliant on car to get anywhere, and it all takes time as the nearest town is 7 miles away. Bus service - don’t make me laugh!!

Since his Stroke, G has been diagnosed with Heart Failure (STILL waiting on a proper follow-up for that!) and then in November '22 with Prostate Cancer for which he is receiving therapy. OK life, see what else you can find to chuck at us.

My lovely dog (Lab/Husky Cross) whom I got as a rescue at 18 months died very suddenly just before Christmas '22. We are heartbroken and still in shock. He was with me 24/7 for eight years as he came to work with me and had a bed next to my desk. UPDATE! At beginning of March '23 Buster joined our family. He was rehomed and settled immediately with us. He is calm and loving. Typical Lab - he is food focussed. lovely to get back out on walks with him and build his meg muscles which were wasted through lack of exercise.

The last six months of 2022 were particularly trying and I found I was permanently tired and my sleep pattern is shot to pieces. Often up in the wee small hours, but have started trying to use this constructively by trying my hand at writing fiction. Let’s see how that goes.

In March '23 G suffered a retinal haemorrhage and over the last six months has had bouts of laser treatment and eventually Vitrectomy surgery, which has worked in his right eye. Now waiting on more laser work on the left trying to avoid a further op on that eye.

Following the stroke we’ve been warned he is at high risk of Vascular Dementia and there are some signs of memory degradation and cognitive failure. Ho hum!

August '24 he was admitted to hospital with suspected second stroke but that was ruled out but after major UTI and e.coli he spent 3 weeks in hospital and 5 in rehab unit. Home for three weeks then back in hospital with major lung infection resulting in 5 weeks in-patient care (first of which he doesn’t recall as he was delirious for 7 days!) til discharged to my “tender” care.

Struggling on with prostate cancer flaring up and generally life is pretty **** (pooey!)