To Live This Gift Of Life We Were Given

A blend of emotions and thoughts caring for mum who has dementia. “Grab these moments and memories and put them in your pocket. I promise you that one day you’re going to be glad you did.
By Terry Jaconski Dirienzi

We have to really live this gift of life that we were given. Don’t worry that what you have or don’t have doesn’t make you good enough. You are so much more than good enough. None of that stuff matters.. Just be happy.. Love the people in your life.. Really love them. Let them know how much they mean to you. One day it’s all going to change.. And it kind of creeps up on you.

Grab these moments and memories and put them in your pocket. I promise you that one day you’re going to be glad you did. Forgive the people who have hurt you because when it comes right down to it, if they were hurting you’d be there for them.

My Mom’s sugar went up to almost 800. On Mother’s Day, I called an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital. She was moved to a rehabilitation center after a week.. She was getting better. Now she’s very confused.. I had to let them put her in a long term care facility temporarily.

They said that her brain could heal but it could take some time. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. She is like a child right now and I’m the Mom. I go to see her almost every night. I make her laugh, hold her hand, and convince her to eat. I pretend to see the cat that she thinks just walked a crossed the floor.. And I’ve learned how to answer her repeated request for me to take her home.

All around me are other former matriarchs of families. Some are going through the motions of a life they lived before they became patients there. Others are just lost in their minds.. It is the saddest thing to me. I promised my Dad before he died that I would take care of my Mom. I really wish he’d let me know that I am on the right track.

I’m usually pretty good at putting words together and writing something with meaning. I apologize for how unorganized my account is. I have so many emotions going through my mind at any given moment lately…

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