Alzheimers is a Sad Disease
For as long as I can remember every year after Christmas my grandma and grandpa close up their home and head south for the winter (smart smart people if I must say so! lol).
For as long as I can remember every year right after Easter (sometimes I think they might have even come home before) my grandma and grandpa come back home.
For as long as I can remember every year I’m so excited for them to get home. To go visit them. To catch up with them. For them to see Caleb and listen to them talk about how much he’s grown just in the time they’ve been gone.
For as long as I can remember everything has always been ok…but this year things are different.
They went to Florida like normal but things weren’t normal. They will be coming home soon but things won’t be normal. My grandma is sick. Really sick. Alzheimers has been running rampant through her body for awhile but I think I’ve just been denying how bad it truly is. There have been ‘little’ things like she thinks I have 3 kids (the irony in that is that I’ve always said I wanted 3), she often calls me a different name, doesn’t remember Caleb, etc.
The times I’ve spent on the phone with her this year have just been a reminder that she’s getting worse. Not better. I’m having a really hard time handling this. It’s hard on my grandpa, it’s hard on all my family. I’m not sure how I’m going to react when they get back this year. I know I won’t see her as often I should because I’m 3 1/2 hours away now but there’s some talk about the kids (my dad, my aunt, my uncle) sitting down and talking about what to do with her (putting her in a home).
I’m worried about my grandpa. If she’s put in a home, how is my grandpa going to handle it? They’ve been together every single day for sooooo many years!!!! How is my grandma going to handle being in a home if that’s what happens? How am I and the rest of my family going to handle it?
1Corrie
wrote on 27 March 2009 at 1:01
Tishia,
Alzheimers is a hard disease to deal with. My hubby’s grandmother had it and I believe my grandmother has it. It’s very sad to watch them go through this and of course it’s hard on the people that are close to them.
I wish there was something I could do for you or say to you to make you feel better.
Maybe your family should consider a place where your grandpa can be close. We have retirement communities that are nurse facilitated 24/7.
Good luck and I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers.
Corrie
Corrie’s last blog post..Wow! What a training session
2Heather
wrote on 27 March 2009 at 10:09
I don’t know there is something about Alzheimers Disease that just puts a pit in my stomach. It IS a sad disease and I’m really praying they find a cure.
I will keep you, your grandma, and family in my prayers. I know it’s got to be incredibly rough on all of you. {{hugs}}
3Tishia Lee
wrote on 27 March 2009 at 22:54
Corrie and Heather thank you for your comments. Not that any disease is easy to deal with but most other diseases there is a cure or something that helps. With this one my grandma doesn’t have a chance of getting better or remembering who all of us are, etc. It just breaks my heart.
Tishia Lee’s last blog post..Alzheimers is a Sad Disease
4Mary Lutz
wrote on 28 March 2009 at 8:18
Tishia I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandma. I will be praying for her and all of you. I’ve never dealt with it personally, but I can imagine how difficult that would be.
Like Corrie said, perhaps there is a home where your Grandpa can go with her.
Peace be with you.
Mary
Mary Lutz’s last blog post..I’m Baaaack!
5Kim Smith
wrote on 28 March 2009 at 17:11
Tisha,
I totally understand what you’re going through and am sending you a virtual hug! It’s so hard to see them losing their faculties!
My grandparents were able to live in a mobile home for a while with some visiting aides’ help and Meals on Wheels. Then they moved into an Assisted Living, where they shared an apartment.
Eventually they moved to another Assisted Living, sharing an apartment, but G’pa spent the days in the Alzheimer’s Unit, so he could get extra care and G’ma could get some rest and socialize with the other residents. When G’pa got too bad, he had to move to the Alzheimer’s Unit full-time, but G’ma was able to walk down the hall and visit him every day…even spend the whole day with him, if she wanted.
He was there until he passed on. Because of the situation, we were all able to be there with him, as he had always been there for us throughout his whole life.
Kim Smith’s last blog post..Now THESE are ATHLETES!
6Nell @ Casual Friday Every Day
wrote on 1 April 2009 at 9:51
This disease has always touched my soul. It is terribly cruel to live your whole life, create these memories and then lose it all in the end. I’m so sorry, Tishia.