Health & Fitness
St. Charles Family Makes Caregiving a Family Affair
November is National Family Caregiving Month, a Time to Celebrate Caregivers and the Invaluable Work they Do
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and honor family caregivers. This year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock.”
For Gil Ferreira, 75, of St. Charles, his comfort depends on his caregivers: his wife Bea, their children and their spouses, and grandchildren. Since March of 2015, Gil has been living with ALS, and as he gradually loses physical abilities, his dependence on others deepens.
When Gil began experiencing muscle weakness in his back and chest in 2011, he underwent countless tests to determine the cause of his weakness and physical therapy to rebuild his strength. His health did not improve, but rather continued to decline, so Gil pursued additional doctors, and in March of 2015, he was told he had ALS, a rapidly progressive disease that causes muscle weakness and difficulty speaking and swallowing.
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“Nothing can mentally prepare you for an ALS diagnosis,” said Gil. “Our faith, family, friends and the Les Turner ALS Foundation help us make the best of the situation and enable us to cope with the challenges of ALS.”
Initially Bea served as Gil’s primary caregiver, but as his health has declined, the responsibilities have become too much for her to handle on her own. The family employs caregivers during the weekdays, and the whole family pitches in during the other hours.
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Today, Gil has lost the ability to move his arms and legs, and his breathing is compromised. He is dependent on a wheelchair for mobility and needs assistance with everyday tasks. Gil and Bea share a home with their daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, which enables everyone to contribute to the caregiving duties.
“My daughter, Pilar, puts me to bed every night and gets me moving each morning,” said Gil. “My son-in-law and grandchildren who are 12 and 14 years old are very helpful, too. They assist with transferring me from the bed, to the toilet chair or power wheelchair, or wherever I need to go.” His other two daughters travel from Indiana and Tennessee each month to give Pilar and Bea some rest.
For the Ferreiras, it’s a family affair, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. For more information about ALS and the Les Turner ALS Foundation, visit lesturnerals.org.
