| About the Behnkes by Beverly Behnke |
This is our story, we met and were married in 1957. We have been blessed with four children
and now have nine grandchildren, who are all grown. The youngest is 16 and 6ft tall already.
Two grandchildren are married, but one great grandbabies on the way in April 07. We have
three of our children near us and one in Texas, four grandchildren in Texas and one in
Arkansas. We also have six great grandchildren that are the joy of our lives.
We miss the ones that are so far away.
Wayne has had asthma since he was a small child. We both smoked since we were teenagers.
I quit when I was about 25, but couldn't get Wayne to quit with me. Who knew back then
what smoking could do to us. After an asthma attack and a trip to the hospital, at about the age
of 39, he was sent to a specialist and was diagnosed with slight emphysema at that time. But
we never were concerned about it as his asthma was a priority. He was told to quit smoking
then, but of course didn't.
He worked in a factory back then and then ran a filling station for a number of years. When the
state took the property for the freeway, we bought a tavern and also served food. I am sure
that the second hand smoke and also smoking didn't help one bit. We were there about 10
years. At that time, I opened a beauty salon and we sold the tavern.
He then went to work for a farmers cooperative in their filling station, but got transferred to the
fertilizer department. Still smoking, so the combination of chemicals and smoking added to the
problem. I tried to persuade him to quit smoking, but with no success. He would not smoke
around me, but I could smell them whenever he came into the house. I wasn't letting anyone
smoke in our home back then.
Finally in 2000, he ended up in the hospital and was diagnosed with severe COPD. He had to
retire at that time, as they had no job he could do. He had finally quit smoking also. He was
put on prednizone and continueed with it for almost two years. He gained 40-50 pounds and
really couldn't do much of anything.
He was sent to pulmonary rehab, which really helped, and he is still continuing to go there twice
a week. He also was referred to a pulmologist in Milwaukee. He was told to quit the
prednizone. It took a year to get off of it.. He did find that it works much faster when he needs
to go on a spurt than it did when he was on it all the time. We both then went on a low carb
diet and he lost 40 pounds and was doing so well for a few years.
January 2005, he ended up in the hospital with bronchitis. He was doing well and ready to
come home after three days, but was responsive that evening. He was retaining carbon dioxide
and didn't respond for almost seven hours. Very scarey time. Don't know why this happened,
but we think they had his 02 setting too high.
Since then he has been well, but has trouble doing a lot of walking because of getting short of
breath, so we found a scooter for him and he is now scooting all over. Sure saves on gas.
He did learn a big lesson though, and that is to get to the doctor immediately if he is not feeling
well.
I am his caregiver, but he can pretty much take care of himself. We moved into an apartment,
so we don't have any yard work to do and I can take care of the apartment. I am in good
health except for back and leg problems. I have had therapy and with doctors am working on
getting moving better. I am hoping we can do some traveling next summer.
In July of 2006, I had hip replacement surgery, so Wayne got to spend time as the caregiver.
He did the cooking and kept the apartment looking good, doing as much as he could. It is now
June 2007 and I am able to do everything I did three years ago. No more pain pills, able to
walk anywhere and I am able to do all chores again. During the 6 months of recovery, he took
care of me. It is possible to do this with COPD if you keep active and work at a slower pace.
We are both busy with our own computers, playing pogo, helping with our online support group
and with the support group we have started in our community
It is now six years later October 7 2011, Wayne is now in a wheel chair most of the time. It
has not been a good summer. Lots of humidity, which makes breathing harder. He has also
had a pace maker put in due to A-Fib. His blood pressure is much better and heart is now
beating in sync. Hopefully with winter coming, things will get better. Doctor told him to start
walking a little at a time everyday, to get his legs stronger. Stronger muscles means more O2
going to the lungs.
We still get out for breakfast when weather is good. He can use a walker at times. He had to
have a driving test, probably due to handicap plates on the car. HE PASSED. I do almost all
of the driving though, but in case of emergency, I am glad he can still drive if he needs too.
He is trying to find help for this group. It is getting harder, as he can not do much of leg work
anymore. We need someone who can go out and look for speakers.
It is now February 2012 and Wayne is in a electric wheel chair all the time now. His stats drop
with any walking. I am hoping with spring he will want to get outside more. I am babysitting
my 5 month old great granddaughter. She is so good and I it gives me something to do. I am
also teaching a computer class one afternoon for Sr citizens at our local center.
God has taken Wayne to his side on March 2, 2012, He is breathing easy now and is my angel
in Heaven. He will be missed by the entire group. He served his on earth well and I will
continue on for a time with the group.
Terry Collins is taking over the group, with Wayne's support, as it has gotten too much for him.
I'm sure she will do a good job. She is the daughter of one of our deceased angels.
This will be my last entry on this page.
and now have nine grandchildren, who are all grown. The youngest is 16 and 6ft tall already.
Two grandchildren are married, but one great grandbabies on the way in April 07. We have
three of our children near us and one in Texas, four grandchildren in Texas and one in
Arkansas. We also have six great grandchildren that are the joy of our lives.
We miss the ones that are so far away.
Wayne has had asthma since he was a small child. We both smoked since we were teenagers.
I quit when I was about 25, but couldn't get Wayne to quit with me. Who knew back then
what smoking could do to us. After an asthma attack and a trip to the hospital, at about the age
of 39, he was sent to a specialist and was diagnosed with slight emphysema at that time. But
we never were concerned about it as his asthma was a priority. He was told to quit smoking
then, but of course didn't.
He worked in a factory back then and then ran a filling station for a number of years. When the
state took the property for the freeway, we bought a tavern and also served food. I am sure
that the second hand smoke and also smoking didn't help one bit. We were there about 10
years. At that time, I opened a beauty salon and we sold the tavern.
He then went to work for a farmers cooperative in their filling station, but got transferred to the
fertilizer department. Still smoking, so the combination of chemicals and smoking added to the
problem. I tried to persuade him to quit smoking, but with no success. He would not smoke
around me, but I could smell them whenever he came into the house. I wasn't letting anyone
smoke in our home back then.
Finally in 2000, he ended up in the hospital and was diagnosed with severe COPD. He had to
retire at that time, as they had no job he could do. He had finally quit smoking also. He was
put on prednizone and continueed with it for almost two years. He gained 40-50 pounds and
really couldn't do much of anything.
He was sent to pulmonary rehab, which really helped, and he is still continuing to go there twice
a week. He also was referred to a pulmologist in Milwaukee. He was told to quit the
prednizone. It took a year to get off of it.. He did find that it works much faster when he needs
to go on a spurt than it did when he was on it all the time. We both then went on a low carb
diet and he lost 40 pounds and was doing so well for a few years.
January 2005, he ended up in the hospital with bronchitis. He was doing well and ready to
come home after three days, but was responsive that evening. He was retaining carbon dioxide
and didn't respond for almost seven hours. Very scarey time. Don't know why this happened,
but we think they had his 02 setting too high.
Since then he has been well, but has trouble doing a lot of walking because of getting short of
breath, so we found a scooter for him and he is now scooting all over. Sure saves on gas.
He did learn a big lesson though, and that is to get to the doctor immediately if he is not feeling
well.
I am his caregiver, but he can pretty much take care of himself. We moved into an apartment,
so we don't have any yard work to do and I can take care of the apartment. I am in good
health except for back and leg problems. I have had therapy and with doctors am working on
getting moving better. I am hoping we can do some traveling next summer.
In July of 2006, I had hip replacement surgery, so Wayne got to spend time as the caregiver.
He did the cooking and kept the apartment looking good, doing as much as he could. It is now
June 2007 and I am able to do everything I did three years ago. No more pain pills, able to
walk anywhere and I am able to do all chores again. During the 6 months of recovery, he took
care of me. It is possible to do this with COPD if you keep active and work at a slower pace.
We are both busy with our own computers, playing pogo, helping with our online support group
and with the support group we have started in our community
It is now six years later October 7 2011, Wayne is now in a wheel chair most of the time. It
has not been a good summer. Lots of humidity, which makes breathing harder. He has also
had a pace maker put in due to A-Fib. His blood pressure is much better and heart is now
beating in sync. Hopefully with winter coming, things will get better. Doctor told him to start
walking a little at a time everyday, to get his legs stronger. Stronger muscles means more O2
going to the lungs.
We still get out for breakfast when weather is good. He can use a walker at times. He had to
have a driving test, probably due to handicap plates on the car. HE PASSED. I do almost all
of the driving though, but in case of emergency, I am glad he can still drive if he needs too.
He is trying to find help for this group. It is getting harder, as he can not do much of leg work
anymore. We need someone who can go out and look for speakers.
It is now February 2012 and Wayne is in a electric wheel chair all the time now. His stats drop
with any walking. I am hoping with spring he will want to get outside more. I am babysitting
my 5 month old great granddaughter. She is so good and I it gives me something to do. I am
also teaching a computer class one afternoon for Sr citizens at our local center.
God has taken Wayne to his side on March 2, 2012, He is breathing easy now and is my angel
in Heaven. He will be missed by the entire group. He served his on earth well and I will
continue on for a time with the group.
Terry Collins is taking over the group, with Wayne's support, as it has gotten too much for him.
I'm sure she will do a good job. She is the daughter of one of our deceased angels.
This will be my last entry on this page.
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