Welcome to Tessa's House

Here is the transcript of the video.

Hello. Welcome to Tessa’s House. I’m Tessa. And I’m Fred. You probably found this blog because you were researching about tracheostomy tubes, or gastrostomy tubes, or perhaps you just wanted to find out a little bit more about home-based caregiving. Maybe you or a loved one has recently undergone a procedure that results in you needing long-term care at home—maybe even on a permanent basis. So, we know what you’re going through. We know what you might be feeling. We’ve been there. And we’ve faced some of the wilderness you’re staring at right now. Thirty years ago, Tessa was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Most of you have heard of that condition. Tessa has used a wheelchair since she was twelve. In 2003, her lung capacity had dropped such that she decided she needed to start using a ventilator. I also wasn’t eating enough, so the doctors gave me a gastrostomy tube or g-tube so that I could get enough nutrition. Now, I know a lot of caregivers and I don’t know anybody who grew up thinking, “Wow, some day I’m gonna be a caregiver.” I was a high school teacher when Tessa realized she needed to start venting. Before that, I made my living with my own business. I traveled coast to coast and dealt with all kinds of different companies. But this was something I didn’t feel qualified to take on. When I first saw her with the tube in her neck in the hospital, I didn’t think I could take it. In fact, I told a buddy of mine a few years later that I nearly swallowed my own face. So, feeling intimidated is perfectly okay. It is common for physicians and nurses to have difficulty treating their own family members. That’s why the tone of these videos will be on the lighter side whenever possible. It’s important to remember that you’re not practicing medicine. You are just living life. And try to enjoy your life whenever possible. If you're new to caregiving or you are afraid to start, these videos can give you an idea of what you’re getting yourself into. If you've been a caregiver a while, you may get some ideas from watching the way we do things. You also may send us an e-mail about how we could do things better. It’s all about what works best for you. It’s all just another way of living life. Stop in at TessasHouse.com every few days to see what’s new on the blog. Make sure you sign up to follow the blog and to receive e-mail alerts when we post a new video. Let us know about your own blog. We’d love to check it out for possible linking here. And, most importantly, . . . Enjoy your life.