Since the month of June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, how appropriate that an official diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made for a very close family member just this week.
If you've never dealt with somebody with this disease, I truly HOPE it doesn't happen to you.
I can't even begin to describe the range of emotions.....
anger, frustration, exhaustion, guilt, sympathy, dread.....
these are just a few of the feelings I've had the last couple of weeks.
Another "it's not odd, it's God" thing is this past SONday at church we Senior Adults were honored.
Here is part of the scripture our pastor read and I couldn't help but think of my loved one......
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator.
Honor Him in your youth before you grow old and say,
“Life is not pleasant anymore.”
Remember Him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember Him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember Him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember Him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember Him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper. Remember Him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Prayers for you, sweet Friend, if you have loved one suffering from this horrible disease.
And, prayers for you, too.
praying for you, and your precious loved one. I totally understand, my mom suffered with this before she passed away.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. You know first-hand how devastating this can be to the one with the disease and also those who take care of them.
DeleteDeb, I'm so sorry that a family member of yours has been diagnosed with this terrible disease. I understand and am praying for you. It is so true what you wrote. We need to remember God and have our relationship with Him firmly established while we can. My Mom is a good example. She has no interest in anything spiritual now and my prayer is that her relationship with God was indeed real and not just "religion". Have a blessed day, my friend.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've thought the same thing. I know my Mom has talked more about the Lord in the last maybe year than I ever remember her doing in my lifetime. I wish this had been caught sooner. I "knew" something wasn't "right" since her hip replacement surgery a couple of years ago. Our SS teacher is a PCP and I asked him about it and he told me sometimes strong meds can trigger it, if the "disease" is already there. She has refused to be checked until I basicly went behind her back....I felt terrible....but at least now she's on medication. It's mild/moderate so hopefully this will help her to function better....and give me more peace of mind. Love you, sweet Friend. Prayers for you and your Mom.
DeleteKeeping you in prayer...my mother in-law suffers from dementia...it can be overwhelming at times...
ReplyDeleteIt's just so very sad. I hope and pray that our daughter never has to deal with this with me or her Daddy.
DeleteIt's such a dreaded disease Deb. My mom has some dementia and some days are worse than others. It's sad! Praying for your damily right now my friend. P.S. Love the beautiful header! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteOh, it is so very sad. Mom has always had a tendency to be a bit "mean"....I had chalked her actions up to that so much of the time. Now I feel really guilty about that, but all I can do is take care of her from this point forward. No looking back. Love you, Friend.
DeletePraying for you. We went through some form of dementia with both of Neil's parents. Not a good period in our lives. If I can help, let me know.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a precious Lady, Ms. Liz. Love you....I treasure your prayers for us! We're praying for you and Mr. Neil, too.
DeleteKeeping your family in my prayers. I have lost two members of my family to Alzheimers. I have a very dear, dear friend whose mother has it. I know her mom as well, but just met her during the early onset but we bonded instantly. I still see her sweet mother occasionally at the store with her husband. She gets excited to see me and hugs me but it is so apparent she doesn't know who I am. It is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda. Prayers for my own sanity would be apprecited, too. ;-) I'm just kidding....well, no not really! It is such a sad disease. I'm glad my Daddy doesn't have to deal with it...he's the one who is so much better off. :(
DeleteYou are not alone. ♥
ReplyDeleteYou know exactly where I'm coming from, although Mom's is mild/moderate. She's still able to do things for herself and FINALLY accepted the need for medication. She was so reluctant at first. I let her make the decision, because I can't make her take it. Her PCP said it would give her (his estimate) 7 more years living in her own home. Praying for that for her.
DeleteSo many have to deal with this horrid disease. Each journey is different, though the same. I hope that the medication helps your mom, and slows down the grip it has on her. It will help for you to find a support group there, perhaps. Please feel free to vent, cry and rejoice all you want here with your blogging friends. Sending love and daily prayers for you all.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know, Ms. Terri. Our situation isn't bad at all, it just breaks my heart. My Mom has depeneded on me a lot since her heart attack 5 years ago....before that....well, the relationship wasn't too good. No matter my upbringing, she's still my Mom and I will take as good a care of her as I can.
DeleteYes, my grandfather had it. It's such a sad sad thing! Praying for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Ms. Monica. It really is a terrible disease.
DeleteMy mom has it too, but right now she is doing well and is happy.
ReplyDeleteSuch good news about your Mom. I'm not sure mine has ever been happy, bless her heart. She is doing well, and hopefully by taking the meds, she'll do better. The doctor said that neither he, nor her might not be able to tell a difference, but I probably could. Praying for that.
DeleteSo sorry your family member has received this diagnosis. My mother in law struggled terribly. So hard.
ReplyDeleteThanks, sweet Lady.
DeleteDearest Deb, a precious friend of my heart that we have never met but have known each other for several years now ....I agree with so much of what has been said above, in regards to this tragic disease. My heart weeps for you, for the days ahead of you, and the pain and sorrow your heart has and will experience. But my overall thought is, how blessed your mother is to have you as her daughter in such a time as this. Her daughter is a beautiful soul, her daughter is a daughter of God, a child of faith, a reservoir of the Written Word. A doer of God's Word not a hearer only.....I'm so thankful that we know that we are a threefold being, and though your mother's body "conscience mind" may fade away her soul and spirit within is untouched by this terrible disease. I know you will speak words of truth to her, over her, about her. I know you will sing songs of Jesus's love for her, songs that will bring her soul and spirit to rejoice with you...though it may appear that she hears you not ...we know she does...How incredibly blessed your mother is to have such a daughter as you ~ One that loves God ~ Believes in God ~ Trust in God
ReplyDeleteI love you my friend and know I will add you to my prayer list, and your mother. Your friend forever and a sister in the Lord for all eternity.