This weekend we honor mothers. We celebrate our own mothers and grandmothers, being a mother (if we are one), and consider the children that have made us mothers.
I've been thinking about my Mom a lot lately. I just returned from a trip to Pennsylvania to visit with her and my family. Mom has Alzheimers. The disease has progressed rapidly over the past three or four years since her initial diagnosis. She's been living in a nursing home dedicated specifically to patients with dementia since January of this year. She's still as beautiful as ever.
Mom and her three girls; me, Sue, and Lisa.
Of course I was eager to see her -- I miss her tremendously -- but I was also apprehensive. Would she remember me? Would she know my name? Would she introduce me as her daughter? I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, the answer to all those questions was Yes. While I'm incredibly heartbroken to see her there and know that that is where she has to be now, my visit with her was better than I imagined. She was thrilled to see me, especially on my first visit. Once, when I first got there and I looked for her, she saw me first and called, "Angie, Angie!" Words cannot describe the emotion that just hearing her say my name invoked.
This photo was taken last October, three months before she was admitted to the nursing home. Me, Mom, and my sister Lisa.
And this one a mere year ago when she and Lisa came to Louisiana for Eric's high school graduation.
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I've been thinking about my Mom a lot lately. I just returned from a trip to Pennsylvania to visit with her and my family. Mom has Alzheimers. The disease has progressed rapidly over the past three or four years since her initial diagnosis. She's been living in a nursing home dedicated specifically to patients with dementia since January of this year. She's still as beautiful as ever.
Mom and her three girls; me, Sue, and Lisa.
Of course I was eager to see her -- I miss her tremendously -- but I was also apprehensive. Would she remember me? Would she know my name? Would she introduce me as her daughter? I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, the answer to all those questions was Yes. While I'm incredibly heartbroken to see her there and know that that is where she has to be now, my visit with her was better than I imagined. She was thrilled to see me, especially on my first visit. Once, when I first got there and I looked for her, she saw me first and called, "Angie, Angie!" Words cannot describe the emotion that just hearing her say my name invoked.
This photo was taken last October, three months before she was admitted to the nursing home. Me, Mom, and my sister Lisa.
And this one a mere year ago when she and Lisa came to Louisiana for Eric's high school graduation.
It's overwhelming to me to realize how much things can change in the span of only one year.
This is Mom as a teenager.
And on her 70th birthday, just three years ago. Love you, Mom!
On the other end of the Mother's Day spectrum, our Eric comes home from college this weekend, just in time to spend the day with me. Andrew returns next weekend.
Wishing you all a Happy Mother's Day! How will you celebrate?
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2 comments:
Great article, Angie! Your mom, sisters and you are fortunate to have each other!
I am glad you were able to visit your mother. It's wonderful that you have these photos.
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