Shannon and I went to see mom on December 8th for her birthday, which was on December 7th. Shannon ate lunch with her and I went to take mom her birthday cards that I received.
Mom was having a really good day - earlier that morning they sang Christmas karoke and mom just jumped in, grabbed the mic and apparently stole the show. She got to keep the santa hat for her performances.
We took family pictures with mom in her Santa hat and then read her birthday cards. Then I walked back with her to her room while Shannon discussed some things with some of the administrators.
Mom and I looked at the birthday cards she had already received and added the new ones to her collection. I went to see mom on my lunch hour and the end of the hour was approaching, so I asked mom if I could walk her to the living room on the other side so she could hang out with everyone in there. We stepped outside her room and linked arms. (Mom is not really steady walking, so a lot of times, we hold her hand or her arm.) We got down her hallway and were about halfway to the atrium, and she stopped, rubbed my arm, looked me in the eyes and said, "I love you. You are so good." And I just stopped, held back the tears, and said, "I love you too, mom," and hugged her for a while.
I am so thankful for that moment and cherish it so much. I balled all the way back to work. I don't know if I will ever encounter another moment like that with her. I hope that I do, but I know that I am not guaranteed it. Honestly, with her disease, I know that there is a day that is approaching that I will walk in to go see her, and she will have no clue as to who I am. So, I am choosing to remember this moment and store it for years to come.
There is no doubt in my mind that my mom loves my sister and I very much and are very proud of who we have turned out to be.
I'm really behind on this thing and have several ideas of things to post on here, mainly a reflection on 2009 and what I hope for 2010...but those are to come on a later day.
1 comment:
I cried when I read this. My husband of (well would have been 35 years on New Years Eve) died of Lewy Body Dementia on 11/27/2009. Ten years we had the diagnosis, and the last 4 years a day to day roller coaster of the Lewy Train. Hang in there and yes love every time you have those wonderful moments. My husband knew me and everyone up to the day he slipped into a coma. He took me on his wonderful adventures in the land of hullcinations. Lucky they were good ones. So maybe your Mom will not forget who you are just where she is. salozier
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