My mom is a wonderful woman who dedicated the majority of her life to the raising of her 8 children. My dad worked in the real estate industry, therefore working most nights and every weekend. He would leave by 8:30 in the AM, be back to have dinner waiting for him on the table then head back to the office until 9PM. My mom stayed at home and did her best trying to teach us to become the best possible people that we could be.
My dad passed away in July 2001, 17 days before my beautiful Katie was born. Her birth helped soften the pain and hurt of his death.
My mom then spent much of the next few years occupying herself with my 3 little children by spending much time at my house keeping busy. After the unexpected death of Katie something changed though. We began to notice little things....forgetting this, forgetting that...maybe it was depression?
As time crept by the memory lapses grew worse. One doctor attributed the forgetfulness to age-related factors and brushed it off.
My mom has Alzheimer's. It is a difficult, devastating and will eventually become a debilitating disease..and there is nothing anyone can do about it. As a nurse who worked in geriatrics, dementia and Alzheimer's are common items seen quite frequently in a patent's medical history. We learn that patients diagnosed with these illnesses are poor historians, will have difficulty following simple instructions and will need frequent verbal cues for their ADLs.
My mom has no short-term memory left. Her conversations consist of repetition and constant questioning. It is devastating for not only those who surround her but to her as well. She realizes her memory is failing and wants desperately to cure her lapses. There is no cure. Sure there are medications which claim to help ease the symptoms of the disease, but for her, they have not worked.
As my mom's memory of her life continues it's vicious disappearing act, the memory of who my mom once was will remain forever strong in the depths of my heart.
I posted several pictures taken of my mom from the holidays at her house. Included in the pictures is my nephew M, Little b, S and me.
J
My dad passed away in July 2001, 17 days before my beautiful Katie was born. Her birth helped soften the pain and hurt of his death.
My mom then spent much of the next few years occupying herself with my 3 little children by spending much time at my house keeping busy. After the unexpected death of Katie something changed though. We began to notice little things....forgetting this, forgetting that...maybe it was depression?
As time crept by the memory lapses grew worse. One doctor attributed the forgetfulness to age-related factors and brushed it off.
My mom has Alzheimer's. It is a difficult, devastating and will eventually become a debilitating disease..and there is nothing anyone can do about it. As a nurse who worked in geriatrics, dementia and Alzheimer's are common items seen quite frequently in a patent's medical history. We learn that patients diagnosed with these illnesses are poor historians, will have difficulty following simple instructions and will need frequent verbal cues for their ADLs.
My mom has no short-term memory left. Her conversations consist of repetition and constant questioning. It is devastating for not only those who surround her but to her as well. She realizes her memory is failing and wants desperately to cure her lapses. There is no cure. Sure there are medications which claim to help ease the symptoms of the disease, but for her, they have not worked.
As my mom's memory of her life continues it's vicious disappearing act, the memory of who my mom once was will remain forever strong in the depths of my heart.
I posted several pictures taken of my mom from the holidays at her house. Included in the pictures is my nephew M, Little b, S and me.
J
2 comments:
Beautiful pictures. I am so sorry you are dealing with such a devastating thing. ((hugs))
Very nice pics. My best friend's dad has Alzheimer's as well, it's a terrible disease. All the best.
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