Sweet & Sour Meatballs
(One of Fran's sister Marcia's favorite)
Lewis also speaks, through first hand knowledge, about Traumatic Brain Injuries, which caused the death of her sister. And I must mention too that the proceeds for this book go to Montefiore Hospital to the fund
they set up in memory of Fran Lewis' mom and sister.
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle chile sauce
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 9 ounces grape jelly
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 large onion, grated
- salt to taste
Directions
- Whisk together the chili sauce, lemon juice and grape jelly. Pour into slow cooker and simmer over low heat until warm.
- Combine ground beef, egg, onion and salt. Mix well and form into 1 inch balls. Add to sauce and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Because We Care – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds
‘As
the primary and only caregiver for my mom who has Alzheimer’s I have
had to develop different ways to keep myself active and my mind
stimulated. All too often as a caregiver you become so immersed in
taking care of the needs of the person who is ill that we forget about
our own. When you make the decision to care for a family member at home
you are really taking on a challenge of herculean proportion. Every
day is different and every challenge unique and must be handled
differently but with kindness and care. When a person has Alzheimer’s
the hardest thing to deal with is their changing and erratic behaviors.
They can be calm one minute and out of control or violent the next.
These behaviors tend to put a lot of stress and strain on the
caregiver.’
Through
her trial and error learning Author Fran Lewis discovered some of the
most basic yet important things that the caregiver will be confronted
with when caring, not only for those with Alzheimer’s but other diseases
and incapacitating illnesses. Through her book Because We Care she
brings to light the warning signs of Alzheimer’s as well as the
importance of discussing your fears with the patient’s doctor. She
explains why it’s so important to follow a routine with the patient to
keep some of their confusion down. This includes things as simple as
when to go to the bathroom, when to eat and even bed time. She
stresses the importance of security with Alzheimer’s patients. They do
have a tendency to wander off so items such as ID bracelets or necklaces
are exceptionally important as well as keeping a current picture handy
in case the police are brought in to help with the find.
Lewis
discusses the choices you might face as to keeping the patient at their
own home, having round the clock nurses, moving them into your own home
or placing them in a facility. She brings to light the pros and cons,
not just for the patient but also for the caregiver. How to find a
suitable facility and even what questions to ask of not only a facility
but of nurses for in-home-care. And truly just as important, how to spot patient abuse and what to do if you suspect or know this is happening to your loved one.
But
one thing Lewis puts heavy stress on is the importance of the
caregiver’s own health and well being. She impresses the fact that the
caregiver’s whole normal way of life will change when taking over their
patient. The stress that goes along with being a caregiver is so much
more than you can ever imagine. And to help with this stress, Lewis
offers suggestions throughout the book that will help when dealing with
this phase of the care.
I’ve
only had short bouts with being a caregiver and never for an
Alzheimer’s patient. My Dad and I were both blessed with his being
alert until the last couple days of his life. But I still know the
stress that just watching him deteriorate in a short 5 month period put
on me. I can’t imagine watching someone with Alzheimer’s change into a
person who I no longer know nor knows me. For any of you out there that
are going through this situation, I suggest you read this book. I
really feel it just might help. For those of you who aren’t currently
acting as a caregiver, this is still a book I recommend you read. You
never know when you too might have to make the choices and deal with the
stress that Lewis and people like her have dealt with and are still
dealing with.