My Mom My Hero

My mom has had Alzheimer’s disease for the last seven to eight years. It’s hard to actually know when the disease got a hold of her. There were certainly things that my mom said and did that stared me right in my face that I seemed to have ignored. Or should I say I wanted to ignore, at the time.

I should have known the signs—but since there is no prevention or cure—did it really matter? I remember one Thanksgiving my mom came to visit from Florida and brought her summer clothes. Since my mom is always cold, I should have sensed that something was wrong. Now I believe that I was in denial.

Today I am one of my mom’s caregivers. Despite living in a different state I speak to my mom on the phone daily, and when I do visit, her—which is every several months—I get to see the true effects the disease has had on her.

I remember four years ago when I took my mom into her bathroom and asked her to comb her hair, my mom picked up her toothbrush and started to brush her hair. There were signs that my brother had hung on bathrooms walls saying, “FLUSH TOILET” and “BRUSH TEETH”— that my mom only ignored. It was pretty upsetting to see my mom in this state.

My role as my mom’s caregiver is challenging, even if it is long distance. I have been able to laugh with her, sing with her, and practice her spelling on the telephone on most days. I try to keep her mind stimulated and keep humor going, as laughter is great for both of us. There are days when I call my mom and I can hear immediately in her voice that she is having a difficult day. On these days, our phone calls are cut short.

Usually when I call my mom’s caregiver( who is with my mom twelve hours a day)she fills me in on how my mom is doing. Up until a year ago my mom at times was still able to share words of wisdom with me. But her life with Alzheimer’s has been changing, and now as each day goes by, I seem to loose my mom a little more each day.

Her disappearance into her own world is starting to worsen. She has no memory, and the second I hang up the phone or visit she cannot remember that I was just there.

As a caregiver for someone who has Alzheimer’s, roles seem to reverse. My mom has become the child and I the adult. I hold on to what my mom and I still share and try to stay upbeat. No she’s not the same mom, but she still fills my heart with much love and joy. I do not know how much longer my mom will remember me, so every day I have left with her is truly a gift.

I have been writing a blog about our journey together since March 2011, and have over 28,000 viewers worldwide. Mom and I would love for you to join us. We are committed to spreading awareness about Alzheimer's around this planet.

Lisa

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