“The first thing I asked was his life expectancy. ‘5-10 years.’ The tears did not stop pouring. How could it be true? Why should his life be cut short? Once we got out of the initial haze of disbelief, we immediately knew we had to take action.”
‘There are only 150 known cases.’ What?! There was no cure, no treatment. ‘Leo will never walk, talk, or live a normal life.’: Mom raises awareness for son’s rare Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy
My Mom May Have Forgotten My Name, But She Will Always Know My Soul
“She didn’t know our relation, but she knew the sound of my voice. She didn’t recognize my face, but she recognized my soul. She felt safe and loved with me, even if she didn’t know why.”
‘She’d walk into a room and shout, ‘Grammy’s here, have no fear!’ The woman was a force! Anywhere she went, she was the center of attention.’: Woman shares ode to fierce grandma battling Alzheimer’s
“The disease slowly took away her ability to form coherent sentences. But somehow, we always found a way to understand each other; love has a way of filling in the gaps. Gram is a force to be reckoned with.”
Don’t Punish Yourself For Your Loved One’s Suffering
“I felt I didn’t have the right to enjoy anything while my mom and dad were suffering so greatly. I felt guilty I didn’t take care of her from the minute I woke up until the minute I went to sleep. I stopped living my life because they couldn’t live theirs.”
‘I noticed my mom staring at this young couple. They looked uncomfortable. ‘Can I help you with something?’ My face was hot and embarrassed.’: Woman learns life lesson from mom with Alzheimer’s
“I put back the two bottles of Diet Coke I had picked out and hurried out of line over to my mom. ‘I don’t understand.’ She looked hurt and confused.”
‘My mom doesn’t know who I am anymore, but she knows me in a way no one else does. I am her safe space.’: Daughter to mom with Alzheimer’s says ‘our bond is unbreakable’
“If I had one wish, one thing for my mom to have back, it wouldn’t be for her to remember who I am. That would be the last thing I’d wish for.”
‘Her neighbors found her on the side of the road. That’s when we knew. She wasn’t the same.’: Student becomes full-time caregiver for grandma with Alzheimer’s, ‘Normal life can wait’
“She didn’t laugh as much. She didn’t recognize me, and she wasn’t able to hold a conversation. I couldn’t believe the timing. It felt like a sign from my grandfather. I knew what I had to do.“
‘I’m so happy we were able to get these photos today.’ My heart broke for him. He hugged back with tears in his eyes. ‘I know it’s time.’: Photographer offers beautiful moment to family of woman with Alzheimer’s
“She showed up with a smile. She was happy and talkative and playful with all the kids and dogs who showed up. She sweetly asked me and Bill, ‘What are we doing here?’”
‘I want my mom to die from Covid-19. I hope this virus is the end for her. It occurred to me as I jumped up and down, waving my arms like a lunatic.’: Woman hopes mom with Alzheimer’s ‘doesn’t die alone’
“When I learned Covid-19 was rampant in eldercare facilities I wondered, ‘Was this the ‘out’ I had been long praying for?’ I determined that yes, yes it was.”
‘Who are you? I don’t know you and I’m really scared,’ she said, shaking. She was crying now. I was her baby, her best friend.’: Woman shares painful Alzheimer’s journey, ‘Nothing prepares your heart for the day your mom doesn’t know you’
“That morning, I picked up my mom for a routine dental cleaning. As usual, she was happy to see me. Nothing stood out as odd. She joked with the receptionist about me and walked out the door with a smile. As soon as the sunlight hit her face, she turned to me. ‘You never told me.’ ‘Told you what?’ I asked. ‘Who you were.’ All in a couple of seconds, I realized this was very real. She was terrified and begged, ‘Take me home.’ I soon realized ‘home’ was her childhood house. My mind was racing.”
