This blog began as therapy for the Alzheimer’s journey in our family. Then it slowly morphed into more posts about hope. But how did it all begin? What was the impetus for sharing my words in cyberspace? The thief first appeared as a slight blip on the memory screen. A word forgotten, a key chain …
Amy Bovaird suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive vision disorder. Yet she is the primary caregiver for her aging mother. Below is an example of how Amy finds hope in her daily adventures – even in a pair of pink slippers. “Make sure you don’t drop my hearing aids,” my mother warned, as she did …
God has never answered my question, and I seriously doubt that he will. However, he is kind enough to let me rage against him, scribble in my journal and cry out my frustrations. “Why have you let Alzheimer’s take over my mother’s brain? I still need her.” I want her to tell me how to …
Throughout this series about the LDC, I often alluded to the importance of prayer. My personal intercessory team lifts me up in prayer before every trip to Oklahoma. My siblings know people in their churches, their cell groups and their networks who pray for them. Certainly, we all pray for Mom. I pray that she …
Living with Alzheimers and/or dementia causes a host of emotions—especially for caregivers. Mom’s emotions aren’t that difficult. She lives in a contented land where all she has to worry about is where she put her teeth during the night and can she find her underwear the next day. Even then, somebody helps her with those …
As our loved ones journey through Alzheimers and/or dementia, it’s important that we keep in regular contact with the rest of the family. Even though we live hundreds of miles away, we still have a significant role to play. I call my sister each week and my brother about every other week. My sister is …
A friend recently encouraged me to define my role as a long-distance caregiver. How would a defined role help me deal with my guilt and anxiety whenever I drive away from Mom? But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Define my role and maybe even give myself a job …
During a recent hospital stay, my mother needed extra supervision. So, to give my sister a break from the constant strain of caregiving, I opted to stay with Mom in the hospital. One morning, Mom seemed especially agitated so I asked her, “What’s your favorite Psalm?” “Oh, probably 23,” she said. In my purse, I …