In the thread about Herman, Rob commented that his mother doesn't recognize some of her loved ones. To this, Granny responded, "I'm very familiar with that disease but the best line I've heard about it was even though they don't remember who we are, we still (and always will) remember who they are."

This brought to my mind, something I just read in the past few days on another forum that I participate in.


The Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goosebumps on my arm, and thought,
'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message..This one I thought I could share with you.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make
the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, But how to dance in the rain.'

 

Very nice, Sue. Thanks for posting!

 

Sue, thank you so much for posting that wonderful message!

 

So true...

 

Now you know why I go to the nursing home in Freehold, NJ every weekend.

 

^ Yes...Auntie wasn't really too aware mentally near the end, but I'm sure she could feel the touch of my hand or kisses on her cheeks.

Thanks, Sue...I did share it with some peeps I care about.

 

Beautiful message, Sue. I've copied this to share with one of my friends. She and I used to get together every Sunday afternoon for lunch and maybe a little shopping. She always, always brought her mom along. Her mother had alzheimers and had forgotten who her daughter was. My daughter was small at the time and Mrs Rogers thought Lora (my daughter) was her daughter. Lora had no idea why this this little old lady loved holding her hand, helping her with her food, helping her watch for cars to cross the street, etc. It was heartbreaking but beautiful at the same time. One time when we were seated at a buffet restaurant and my friend was fixing her mom's plate for her, Mrs. Rogers looked at me across the table (I have NO idea who she thought I was) and said, "I don't know who that lady is, but I'm certainly glad she's getting my plate for me." I ALWAYS admired how faithful my friend was to her mother all the way until Mrs. R died. She was there for her every step of the way.

 

Visiting someone with Alzheimer's is difficult. Early on, we'd see Rick's Mom smile and we knew she knew we meant something to her, or, at least she knew (I hope) we were nice people, who came to visit.

No matter how much you love them, sometimes it takes everything you have to walk through the door and do it all over again, especially when they no longer speak. One sided conversations are difficult to continue for any length of time. On occasion, if someone spoke French, (language of her youth), they'd get a brief reply, but that didn't last long.

We would visit at dinner time, and I would feed her. It gave us a purpose and helped out the overworked staff a bit. Every time you visit, you leave mourning just a bit more their eventual passing. By the time she passed, there were few tears, just relief that she was no longer in that world.


to anyone watching a loved one fade away from this disease.

 

I agree, absolutely. Perfectly said.

 

Sue,

Very thoughtful message....
We are taking care of a 99 Yr young lady and soon she will be going back to her normal life (Independent Living). Your story hit home, again thanks......