Chapter 70 - A Bend in the Road

This morning the 6am alarm failed to wake her until I called out. She turned it off. A little later I realised she had not taken her Madopar Rapid. I called repeatedly before she woke, sat up, needed help to put her feet on the floor. She needed her shoes as always. I lifted her with the belt. Standing, her feet were close together as usual, glued to the floor. "I can't lift my right foot", she said. Still holding her, I wobbled her a little. She concentrated. Slight movement of the leg. "Let me stand in front & hold hands" I suggested. Over what seemed like ages, she moved her right foot slightly, then the left. After a few shuffling steps I was able to let go; she maintained her balance, I wondered whether there was a slight drag of her right foot. Returned from the loo she stood there beside the bed, bending & leaning on it. I left my bed to lift her right knee onto her bed; she tumbled in; she settled. A little later I found her sitting on the side of the bed, puzzled "My leg has feeling in it but it doesn't want to move." She attempted to get back into bed; I needed to lift her right knee again. She was on her right side facing me. "I can't get comfortable until my legs are separated." Her legs were already apart. I told her so. "They must be separated at the top" she said. I bent her left knee a little bit more. "I think I'll lay here a bit" as I left her holding her forehead, looking dreamy. Fifteen minutes later I returned to find her on her left side, dozing. She twisted onto her back. "You looked dreamy before" I mentioned. "I was wondering what was happening." She sleeps now.