DEMENTIA
CHRONICLES: Mom has lost 5% of her body weight since last Thanksgiving.
She doesn’t eat much
because sometimes she: 1) Forgets how to eat, 2) Doesn’t like the food, or 3) Thinks
she is eating when she is not.
In the picture, mom is sipping on a cup of coffee.
I observed her spooning in sugar and even stirring. She slowly lifted the cup to
her mouth, took sips and then carefully returned the cup to the table. She believes
the coffee is there, but, invisible to me. She sometimes believes I see her hallucinations, but I just won't admit it.
Dementia is a HORRIBLE disease that
kills. Walking through this with mom is making me a BETTER person, but I pray
it doesn’t make me BITTER – I can handle the mistreatment my mom gives…it’s
expected & excused…. she has dementia. This has been an emotional
rollercoaster – I’d be okay with it, if it was mom that put me on the
ride. My husband and kids has been
amazing! I don’t know what I’d do
without them! I am grateful to God for ministering to me. He keeps me going!
I wish my family would give me a little support. A call here and there asking how am I doing would be nice. It's hard to believe that I am doing this alone without the support of my family. To add, I have been dealing with a major health issue since last September. I am in such extreme pain that I don't sleep much. Hip and knee swelling and pain has left me unable to sit too long. The pain never stops! My progress in physical therapy has been slow. With all of this, I am tending to mom and dad ALONE!
- I tend to both of my parents finances---alone.
- I am handling my dad's illness and possibly moving him here with me---alone.
- I am paying for mom's personal needs---alone.
- I am watching my mom deteriorate---alone.
- I am handling medical decisions, which I really don't have a clue about---alone.
Family, if you are reading this---AM I LYING? Why don't you call and ask "How are you doing? How is mom doing?" What did I do to deserve this? I feel alone and abandoned.
