Husband had congestive heart failure & rheumatoid arthritis. He got progressively worse until all he could do was drive his utility vehicle and fill water tanks this summer. It tore him up that he had to get me to fold up a sickle bar mower he used in June. He parked it, and I didn't have the heart to take it out to clip pastures. He went to the hospital 3 weeks ago, and our son and I went against his desires and we started 2nd cutting hay. It was delayed due to rain but we're moving right along. The first field I cut, I went to the hospital and told him I did it. His first words, "what did you break", me -"nothing", second words, "how much did you leave?", me -"nothing", then I thought again and told him, "except the corners, you know I don't do good corners". I had to let him keep some pride in his ability to farm. And he proceeded to tell me how to swing the tractor and mower to get the corners, and I pretended to listen figuring I'd get it better with practice. I thought about taking the old sickle bar out and cleaning up some corners before he came home, but didn't have to.
In the end, we think the new arthritis medicine is what killed him. Xeljanz carries warnings about killing white blood cells, and his immune system was destroyed. Also warnings about working in dust, dirt, animal feces, our area of the states, etc. He felt better, until he got really ill. He passed away 2 weeks ago, July 27, very peacefully, like a tractor running out of gas, and that fast. pleaded with him to hang around just a few more minutes for our daughter to get there. She needed to say goodbye one more time. I like to think he heard her.
So things are going on like before, only different. We had set a path this spring to downsize a bit to what I could handle without his help, we just figured he'd still be around to enjoy it together. He was only 64.
In the end, we think the new arthritis medicine is what killed him. Xeljanz carries warnings about killing white blood cells, and his immune system was destroyed. Also warnings about working in dust, dirt, animal feces, our area of the states, etc. He felt better, until he got really ill. He passed away 2 weeks ago, July 27, very peacefully, like a tractor running out of gas, and that fast. pleaded with him to hang around just a few more minutes for our daughter to get there. She needed to say goodbye one more time. I like to think he heard her.
So things are going on like before, only different. We had set a path this spring to downsize a bit to what I could handle without his help, we just figured he'd still be around to enjoy it together. He was only 64.
