When Mother’s Day is Hard because You Lost Your Mom
Every day has felt like Mother’s Day since my mother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease in May, 17 years ago. Honoring and protecting her became my life’s work during her illness.
The Expected Death of a Loved One Still Hurts Terribly
The expected death of a loved one still hurts terribly. My mother lived with early onset Alzheimer’s disease for over a decade. She lived in a nursing home with advanced dementia for almost five years. And she lived on hospice care for two years. I prepared for her death for years. I was relieved, of…
Dear Mom, You Definitely Weren’t Supposed to Leave Me So Soon
Dear Mom, You weren’t supposed to leave me so soon. I’ve had to do everything without you.
I’m Happy She Still Knew I Was Her Daughter at My Wedding Despite Alzheimer’s
We were originally supposed to get married in May of 2008. But, when it was clear that my mother’s early onset Alzheimer’s disease was progressing rapidly, we moved the wedding up by four months. I’m happy she still knew I was her daughter at my wedding despite Alzheimer’s disease. Seventeen years ago today, on January…
Why I Am Different, and I’m Pretty Sure That’s a Good Thing
Someone I thought was a friend once described me as “different.” She meant it in a negative way. And it used to bother me. But now I think that it’s a good thing. Because I am different.