justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

“Youthanizing Winnie”

Is it possible to reverse, or at least slow the aging process?

I can say without any reservation that yes it is, and I probably wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t see it with my own eyes.

My wife and I brought my then 92-year old mother, Winifred (or Winnie as her friends called her) into our home after she had been living in a convalescent hospital for about eight years. Winnie’s mind was sharp, but her physical condition was somewhat compromised, having suffered congenital heart failure in her late 80s. Her mobility was limited and her use of a walker was iffy at best. Her hair had been thinning, her skin becoming porcelain-like, and she bruised quite easily.

After bringing her home, Winnie adjusted to her new home quite quickly. We hired a caregiver by the name of Manna for her. Manna spent weekdays caring for her basic needs and my wife and I took care of Winnie at nighttime and on weekends. Almost immediately after moving in, we noticed her hair was healthier and her skin tone was improving.

With bars on the walls in her room and the path to her bathroom, Winnie gradually learned to navigate her way to the bathroom all on her own. We watched her get stronger with each passing day. She was soon showing increased interest in our daily schedules and making requests for items she observed on her TV. One such request? A “Silver Bullet”! Yes indeed – a small can of Coors Light beer on an especially warm day!

My mom’s doctors were amazed at the ongoing reversal of the several maladies that anyone her age normally experienced. Some of her medications even had their dosage reduced. Doctor office visits became less frequent.

How could this be?