Posted on 08/05/2004 5:39:37 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion
FRiends, an indeterminate project has proved to have lasted a little over five years and is now over. She who bore me, nurtured me, and encouraged me to develop my own intelligence has at last rest from the indignity of gradually losing her own faculties to Alzheimers' Disease.She was born in Oklahoma in 1916, graduated from teacher's college at the age of 18, married at 19 and the mother of two boys at age 22. She taught elementary school until WWII, worked at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa during the war, and taught 2nd grade near Philadelphia for 25 years. She was widowed in 1978.
It fell to me as her only able-bodied child to sustain what dignity I could to her since our determination in March 1999 that she no longer was the intelligent, independent woman my brother and I had known all our lives. It was difficult sometimes but (sustained by my wife), most of the time I was able to accept the situation after each stage arrived. The seventh stage of her illness was wearing on me, making me feel guilty about not wanting to tend to thankless tasks - but that stage started fairly abruptly and ended yesterday after just over 2 months. Hospice was helpful in that stage, and would have been more so had I leaned on it more - as I had just decided to do when suddenly it was over.
Mother is survived by two married sons, three grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters ages two months and 6 years - and by one of her three full brothers and three of her four sisters.
The thought would have pleased her that she was taken for her son's wife when she was 85, and that she retained the natural hair color of her youth on her last day. She was 87.
May God be with you.
And also with you. It was amazing when Dad died, and it was as if - to anyone you'd meet on the street - that he had never been. So important to you, yet so unknown generally.So you want to be with people who knew your Mom, which is why friends and family congregate to share remembrance. But long after that, you still want to be with people who knew her.
Which is what makes the political speech of RP Reagan surprising, as it distanced him from exactly those most appreciative of RWR. More remarkable even than the case of the children of Paul Wellstone. They, at least, were associating themselves with the political predeliction of their father when they were disrespecting people who came to pay respects to their father for differing from them in political perspective.
When you think of it that way, it is nothing short of political extremism. Sponsored in both cases by the Party of Sweetness, Light, and Tolerance. <sarcasm>
May you take comfort and hope in your memories........
Best FRegards,
Condolences.
47
I lost my mother last year and felt like the curtain was closed on the backdrop of my life. It took me a while to see that I have the same function to perform in the lives of my daughter and grandchildren. I am sorry for your loss.
My prayers and condolences at your loss
Gosh, sorry to hear that, Mr. M. The medicine got a bit better over time; there's a "new" one came available from Germany this year, turned out to be too late to do much for Mother. Might help your Dad, tho.And application of existing drugs, one of which seemed to produce a side effect of enhancing her strength and may have extended her life but certainly helped my quality of life as caregiver, and making it practical to keep her at home when I might otherwise have required substantial help or resort to a nursing home.
Having had a father born in the early 1900s, I know how hard a hard life many of that generation had dealt them.
In spite of whatever hardship, she had to be a woman of great character to have raised such a fine person as you.
Rejoice in the fact she's finally free from such a horrible & debilitating disease, and now resides in the Kindom of Heaven.
...our prayers for her, my friend.
And, May God bless you too. I have an only child and someday he will be in the same place you are today. I know the pain must be almost unbearable but hope that you will be able to find some peace and consolation.
I said that my dad has Alzheimer-like symptoms, but he hasn't been diagnosed with it and apparently there's reason to believe it's not Alzheimers. However, he's having memory loss and has difficulty finishing his sentences. He's been on a medication for 2-3 years to help with memory loss and I think it has slowed it. Now, though, it's developing more quickly.
Right now he's got a back problem causing pain in his legs. He can get a shot that will help, but only lasts for 2 weeks. It's paid for by Medicare, but my parents aren't willing to soak the taxpayers just for 2 weeks of relief.
I truly am deeply sorry to hear this, and I pray the Lord will grant strength and comfort to you & the rest of her family.
God bless...
Dear Writer and Essayist Extraordinaire...
I have missed my "appointment" to read your latest thoughts because they were missing. I hesitated to begin asking as it is the time of year when people vacation.
Now realizing you were in a far more unpleasant place, I wish to tender my own heartfelt words of sympathy and believe you understand your mother has been released now.
It is only her absence which will be mourned by those who knew her before that devastation of her mind occurred, and the memories, although tender right now, will turn into the sweetest times of reflection.
Bless her memory, and find comfort in the knowledge our loved ones never "leave" us.
trouble
God bless you and your family.
My sincere condolences and prayers.
My prayers you have. I must complement you on the wonderful words you wrote, your Mother is proud.
Just stick around FR. You will find the sustenance to help you through.
Know that you are being covered with prayer. It will sustain you. Lean on those that offer help. I put my mother in an assisted living home a year and a half ago. She has had alzheimers for about five years. I lost my dad July 16th this year. He took his own life and I found him. God will get us through. Lean on those that offer help.
I'll be off line for a while.
FGS
FGS
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.