Apple iPod/iPhone
It might not be immediately obvious why I've included the iPhone (or iPod) in this blog, but I can assure you that it has been one of the mainstays in my "arsenal" for a long time. In times of crisis, soothing music and calming words have been life-savers. When Julien was in pain for prolonged periods of time, I would grab the iPod and select one of the playlists created specifically for those times. When things were particularly bad I had a playlist that included a voice recording of one of her healthcare practitioners repeatedly reassuring her that what was happening was time-limited and that if she paid close attention to her body, she might even notice that things were getting better. If I couldn't be with her, or had to run an errand, I would leave her with iPod and a phone, so when the iPhone came out it was one thing less that she might have to reach for since both the phone and the playlists were now on the same device. Additionally, when GPS became available with the iPhone, I felt better knowing that if she was out on a walk or otherwise out and about, I would be able to locate her if she was in trouble. Until GPS became available with the iPhone, I actually had another solution for this issue, but that will be covered in another blog entry...