My mom turns 86!

chrisinhouston · 11-18-2006, 10:46 AM

Last week my mom turned 86.

Last February she fell and broke her hip and because of her advanced Alzheimer's she could not be taught to walk again. I moved back from Texas temporarily to my parents house in Atlanta in May and have been here since. My dad is 90 and completly blind. We have home hospice care for mom. My sister and I are their main caregivers. We share in taking care of them, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, feeding, changing and all of that stuff. She is very happy and unlike most Alzheimer's patients is very kind and sweet, always thanking us. She only recognizes my dad and has no idea who I am now. I made the decision to be here until the end, maybe a few more months. She is very thin now and has trouble swallowing. Next week she and dad will have been married 60 years! They are so much in love still.

I am getting a vacation next week to go see my wife, we are going to stay at a ranch near Bandera Texas for the holiday. That will be great!!

Just thought I would share this.

Sundae · 11-18-2006, 10:49 AM

What a moving post. THANK YOU for sharing that.
Your folks are still fine looking.

And very lucky to have children like you and your sister.

Elspode · 11-18-2006, 12:56 PM

Chris, you've made me well up with tears, here. What handsome people your parents are. And how fortunate to have devoted offspring who are dedicating their lives to making theirs as comfortable and loving as they can be.

*These* are the post for which I most cherish my membership in The Cellar community. Beautiful, just beautiful.

busterb · 11-18-2006, 02:06 PM

Ditto Great post.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-18-2006, 08:12 PM

Have you reflected on your journey from rotten little kid, to elder care provider? During the journey, these wonderful people were your impetus and anchor. You're doing well to honor them. I salute you.

PS, extend Cellar wishes to your wife.

zippyt · 11-18-2006, 08:31 PM

Howdy MOMS !!!!

Well done chrisinhouston !!!!

bluecuracao · 11-18-2006, 08:33 PM

Thanks for sharing your story, and the photos of your sweet parents.

Iggy · 11-18-2006, 09:37 PM

That was a great post. Good luck to all of your family, I know just how hard it is to lose family to alzheimer's. You should have great satisfaction that you are sticking it out until the end. Many people can't. Again, good luck, and congradulations on the birthday!

footfootfoot · 11-19-2006, 10:23 PM

That is beautiful Chris. You and they are both lucky. Congratulations may sound odd, but you are doing a tough job and one that many people shy from. Your mom looks like a kind and sweet person.

jinx · 11-19-2006, 10:31 PM

Very nice, thanks for sharing Chris. Beautiful pictures.

CaliforniaMama · 11-20-2006, 03:28 AM

My mom had Alzheimer's, too.

I was her primary caregiver for a while, but had to put her in a home after the third time she tried to burn the house down. That was a tough decision.

It is not an easy life. Be sure to take good care of yourself, too.

Stay strong.

chrisinhouston · 11-20-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Have you reflected on your journey from rotten little kid, to elder care provider?

One day, it came to me. When you raise children you see your past, when you take care of your aging parents you see your future.

Kind of scarry!

Griff · 11-20-2006, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisinhouston

One day, it came to me. When you raise children you see your past, when you take care of your aging parents you see your future.

Kind of scarry!

You're not kidding! Good luck man.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-20-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisinhouston

One day, it came to me. When you raise children you see your past,

Then why do I hear so many parents say, "We didn't act like that when we were their age."

I find I'm mimicking my Dad's distinctive grunts and groans.

DanaC · 11-20-2006, 09:03 PM

I am so moved by this. My mum and aunties shared the care of my nana when she had alzheimers. No easy task, but a worthwhile one. What a wonderful post, thanks for sharing it with us.

11-18-2006, 10:46 AM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	My mom turns 86! Last week my mom turned 86. Last February she fell and broke her hip and because of her advanced Alzheimer's she could not be taught to walk again. I moved back from Texas temporarily to my parents house in Atlanta in May and have been here since. My dad is 90 and completly blind. We have home hospice care for mom. My sister and I are their main caregivers. We share in taking care of them, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, feeding, changing and all of that stuff. She is very happy and unlike most Alzheimer's patients is very kind and sweet, always thanking us. She only recognizes my dad and has no idea who I am now. I made the decision to be here until the end, maybe a few more months. She is very thin now and has trouble swallowing. Next week she and dad will have been married 60 years! They are so much in love still. I am getting a vacation next week to go see my wife, we are going to stay at a ranch near Bandera Texas for the holiday. That will be great!! Just thought I would share this. Attached Images

11-18-2006, 10:49 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	What a moving post. THANK YOU for sharing that. Your folks are still fine looking. And very lucky to have children like you and your sister. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-18-2006, 12:56 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Chris, you've made me well up with tears, here. What handsome people your parents are. And how fortunate to have devoted offspring who are dedicating their lives to making theirs as comfortable and loving as they can be. These are the post for which I most cherish my membership in The Cellar community. Beautiful, just beautiful. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog Last edited by Elspode; 11-18-2006 at 05:03 PM.

11-18-2006, 02:06 PM	#4
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Ditto Great post. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

11-18-2006, 08:12 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Have you reflected on your journey from rotten little kid, to elder care provider? During the journey, these wonderful people were your impetus and anchor. You're doing well to honor them. I salute you. PS, extend Cellar wishes to your wife. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-18-2006, 08:31 PM	#6
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	Howdy MOMS !!!! Well done chrisinhouston !!!! __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

11-18-2006, 08:33 PM	#7
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Thanks for sharing your story, and the photos of your sweet parents.

11-18-2006, 09:37 PM	#8
Iggy Back and ready to tart up the place Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 850	That was a great post. Good luck to all of your family, I know just how hard it is to lose family to alzheimer's. You should have great satisfaction that you are sticking it out until the end. Many people can't. Again, good luck, and congradulations on the birthday! __________________ Chock-full of naughty goodness.

11-19-2006, 10:23 PM	#9
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	That is beautiful Chris. You and they are both lucky. Congratulations may sound odd, but you are doing a tough job and one that many people shy from. Your mom looks like a kind and sweet person. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-19-2006, 10:31 PM	#10
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Very nice, thanks for sharing Chris. Beautiful pictures. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

11-20-2006, 03:28 AM	#11
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	My mom had Alzheimer's, too. I was her primary caregiver for a while, but had to put her in a home after the third time she tried to burn the house down. That was a tough decision. It is not an easy life. Be sure to take good care of yourself, too. Stay strong. __________________ Take time for silence. You never know what you might hear.

11-20-2006, 09:03 PM	#15
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I am so moved by this. My mum and aunties shared the care of my nana when she had alzheimers. No easy task, but a worthwhile one. What a wonderful post, thanks for sharing it with us.

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