Posted 2/16/19
Today I had a more extended visit than normal with mom and even had some time to visit with Sweet 17 member Ms.W. She is a red-headed fireball of a lady. She was a grade school teacher for 38 years in a school within 100 miles of the unit, retiring in 1988. She is still early in the Alzheimer’s trip. Always articulate, Ms. W. told me about her time in college in a neighboring state, of how great of a time she had teaching the little kids, and how happy to hear my daughter teaches. Her husband taught too and this sweetie lamented that both had to teach to make ends meet, but said she has no regrets.
Some days when I come in, Ms. W is tracking very well (like today) and others she is reminiscent of mom a couple years ago. No visitors that I have ever witnessed. She taught (conservatively) 750 kids in her career. Too bad. 🙁 She undoubtedly/informally patched knees and hearts of countless needy kids in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and now she finds herself in an enormous need, and overlooking the chasm of forgetfulness with nobody to collect the library of her mind before departure. Stories visit Alzheimer’s Valley, never to appear again unless they are gathered and card-catalogued into new libraries before descent.
Mom, too, was extraordinary today. All burro tracks on mom’s own descent are clear of obvious rattlers or loose gravel skids. She was happy and we did some “watercolor” (wipe a wet brush over the paper and it turns to the desired color). We sat around and made funny faces into messenger filters and had some big belly laughs. Mom still has small sessions of angst every visit, but can be brought back quickly with misdirection. Her sleep patterns are still miswhacked, but, all things considered in mom’s hike into the valley, all is awesome.
While I wish I could warn the comparably Pollyannaesque Ms. W of the dreadful ride ahead down into the valley, it is fruitless to try as everyone’s trek is different, even though the destination is the same. Her visitors, her nurses and, most importantly, her God will be her tour guide.
Stinkin’ disease. 🙁
#EndALZ