In my last blog post, I wrote that my Mama had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. In the past few months, we have come to understand her diagnosis more clearly. Mama started seeing a specialist in March. This was the best decision for her health thus far. The doctor put her through much testing. We learned that she is in the moderate or middle range of Alzheimer’s, which makes sense considering she has gone down fast cognitively in recent months.
Some moments it feels that she is doing better, but inevitably she starts to decline again. It’s a roller coaster ride that she and I wish did not exist. In the last eight months, a lot has changed. Since the beginning of the year, almost everything has changed. The specialist believes that she had been in a very mild stage of Alzheimer’s for three to four years prior to last year.
The doctor has ordered a lot of help for Mama. This will be short-term, only lasting a couple of months. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and home health come to our home weekly and work with her. Mama’s biggest struggle is word finding or being able to say the word of the object or person she is picturing in her mind. There is a huge positive: her physical health is excellent. She has only high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Both are controlled. The specialist started her on a medication for Alzheimer’s that is working well for her and helping with some of her symptoms.
I’m still doing chemo as usual every other week. And, of course, Mama is always sitting right next to me! I have a PET scan soon (May 14). We look forward to those results. As of the last couple of years, my cancer has remained stable, and we are so grateful for that.
The other night, Mama and I were laughing and talking about life, and I asked, “Do you think you’ll get a little better?” (Because the doctor said that was possible.) She replied gently and confidently, “If that is what the Lord chooses to do, I will.” What faith! We both are trusting Jesus through cancer and now Alzheimer’s, though it’s not always easy. He deserves all our faith, hope, and trust. We believe that with these diseases we bear, the Lord has given us great responsibility to shine His light in a dark world. We see God’s goodness despite and sometimes more clearly on our darkest days.
I’m thankful for the way you have and continue to pray for me through my cancer journey. My Mama needs continual prayer also for healing, joy, clarity of mind, memory restored, and daily grace. I desire more than ever to be well physically so that I can be strong enough to do all that she needs me to do daily. Please pray for my strength mentally and physically. We cannot say “thank you” enough for your prayers.
I have never felt such sadness and desperation as I do now because I love my Mama so much, and I hurt to see her going through this. She is my world, my best friend, and a constant encouragement.
“The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:5-8
—Melissa
Leave a comment