A terrible disease, but let’s try to count our blessings.
“Ok, Cheryl, tell me the names of your children.”, the lawyer asked my mom in 2016. She stammered, unable to form the words we wanted to hear. “How about the ones in the room?”. Still nothing. My sister and I looked at each other, this wasn’t going well. With her unable to name a single one of her 7 children, we had to leave the office without completing what we came there for, but I did walk away with something – an understanding of just how bad things had become for mom. The tears I shed that day formed the basis of my resolve to make sure mom was going to get the help she needed, in time, attention, and medicine.
Dementia can be heart-breaking. Watching mom’s deterioration has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. This woman, who did the crossword everyday, was artistic, a business owner, a SURVIVOR, has been brought to her knees by the ravage of this disease. But you know what, she’s still smiling. She is still kind to everyone, laughs easily, and puts up no fuss. That is a blessing.
There are many other blessings that have come from this experience. Us kids are closer than ever, I have met many inspiring people who have made it their life’s work to treat and eradicate this disease, and most of all, we children of this great woman have reconnected with her in a way that I don’t think would have happened if we were all just consumed by our own lives and problems.
So, I’ll continue to count blessings. Starting this business is a big one, another item to add to the legacy of my dear mom.