Stepping away gave me time to feel Alzheimer’s vastness – like standing beside the Grand Canyon, exhausted, I felt overwhelmed, like I could fall right in. The following summer, during valuable caregiving hours, my spouse and I visited local memory and nursing care facilities. Our options better understood, I could get back to taking it a day at a time and feeling grateful for the moments we still had with Mom in our home.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
Always thinking of you all… sending love and strength. Wise words from your youngest… we always need to take care of ourselves too. You are amazing!!
Ditto 💕
Terri-I always love reading your blog. My Dad had Lewy Body dementia when he died in 2017 and my Mom has other issues that often bring me to the same edge you describe here. It IS so hard! It’s a very insular journey at times so thanks for writing about it. You are not alone…out here in the wide world it’s good to know other people share our same struggles and I definitely do on my end. Have you ever read “The Guest House” by Rumi? This being human is not for the faint hearted!😊🙏🏽💚
Thanks Susie, I’ll have to look for that book.
Love you and love hearing about the realities of your journey. You are a wonderful daughter…wherever your mom is. 💟
💜
Your pen is a light into your life of living with your mother who has Alzheimer’s. My heart is beside yours and I hope you feel its closeness.
I do, Robin 💕
Oh Terry, you write the way you live, fully and without abandon. I sat on my parents’ front porch today and read your post. The bright sun and your raw and beautiful words had ME blinking in the summer sun and holding back the tears. Your honesty is such an open door allowing others to see the struggles and to know they are not alone. Well done friend. Reaching across the space between us with love and support for all you do. ❤️
A big hug to your parents Meg.