Posted 12/23/18
Another good day for mom. Still anxious as all get out, but better than bad. Tomorrow is a critical care team meeting. I am praying that she can be reintegrated back into her old facility within the week.
Christmas isn’t the same with mom in her present situation. Two years ago Christmas was “normal”. Mom was cute in her forgetfulness, but was still functioning really well. Last Christmas mom was struggling to remember basic facts and she was no longer able to hide the fact that she didn’t know us anymore. Now Christmas 2018 the decline continued such that her Alzheimer’s unit isn’t even smooth enough for her condition.
Do me a favor. Hug your folks today. Document the stories. Today! Spinning a yarn is hard when the all of the yarn is unwound hopelessly in a bird’s nest and the only one that knows how to unwind it cannot. Example: I wish I would have asked for mom’s pancake syrup recipe in 2015. I think I asked in 2015 and she told me “Oh boy, it seemed like I used corn syrup and sugar and maybe vanilla, but that may be wrong”. I asked in 2017 and she laughed and didn’t know. In 2018 she doesn’t know what syrup is.
Not all is bad, though. The bad memories are all gone too. No sadness for lost grandparents. No regretting missed opportunities (by her at least).
I am sorry to post this on such a happy weekend. My intention is not to make you sad…not even a little. My hope is that you will take this holiday family weekend to savor memories and burn them into an incorruptible archive for future generations while you can.
Alzheimer’s stinks and it comes on too quickly. Don’t wait.
#EndALZ