OUR "MAGICAL JOURNEY" RIDE
I have been trying to decide what I would like to share with you about my four week visit with my mom. I plan other blog entries about my visit, but thought my first entry should be about how I am feeling right now.
My spirit is feeling so light with an inner happiness I find hard to explain. I notice how upbeat I feel accompanied by a joyous glow. Being able to spend almost every day visiting mom was uplifting.
This was a trip that I planned a year ago not knowing how much longer mom would be able to communicate with me. For the very first time (in the ten years that mom has Alzheimer's) I was not a long distant caregiver. I became her "daily "caregiver and, as if mom had a sixth sense, each day that I visited her, she became more and more responsive.
She appeared elated each day that my husband and I called her name as we found her wandering the hallways in her Merry Walker. I was so lucky to have my best friend, my husband, accompany me on every visit. Mom was so enamored with him, although she could not understand nor remember that he was her son- in- law for the last thirty-five years.
The two questions that everyone has asked of me since I returned home is "How is your mom doing?" and "Does your mom know you"? My answers have always been, " Mom is doing great and although she may not always say that I am her daughter I know that she knows who I am." Even when she did not seem to distinguish me, she then would suddenly call out my name Lees(short for Lisa) to come walk with her.
The other day my brother went to see her. He called me( back in NYC) and mom sounded so alive as she kept singing every song in the universe and telling me that she loved me. The very last thing mom said to me before we hung up the phone was "I never want anything to happen to you and I only want you to be happy. I love you and I will always be your mother."
My heart immediately skipped a beat and I knew how much our trip actually meant to her. I know that it really touched her and that my husband and I made a difference in her life.
I will never forget the time that I was able to spend with her and I will cherish it forever. For all of us this was truly "our magical journey ride", one that we all shared.
My book My Mom My Hero is available with over 200 reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Mom-Hero-Alzheimers--daughters-bittersweet/dp/0615773982/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400860930&sr=1-1&keywords=lisa+hirsch
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. So heart lifting and positive.
ReplyDelete...and thank you for taking the time to write me.
Deletehugs, Lisa
Loved it...Unforgettables
ReplyDeleteAwesome and thanks for sharing.
Deletexoxo
Absolutely wonderful. Touches my heart deeply. I have been waiting patiently to hear about the extended time you spent with your beloved mom. Looking forward to more blog entries. Barb
ReplyDeleteBarb, this is so sweet of you. I will definitely be sharing lots more on my blog. Hugs to you. Lisa
DeleteLisa I am sitting here reading your blog even though I know it has been posted for days I was having a hard time opening it because this week is the one week anniversary of my Mom's passing but as I read my heart filled with joy for you. How special of a time that must have been for you especially being a long distance caregiver to have that most precious one on one time with your Mom will makes all the hard journey easier. Thank you for the last bit about the phone call because it jogged my memory of a conversation Mom and I had one year ago today and made me remember something special she said to me so Thank-you very much. Looking forward to your next blog. Hugs Carol
ReplyDeleteCarol you and your mom are in my heart today as I read your message. I'm happy that someway I was able to have you recall a special moment that you shared with your mom. Please treasure those memories always.
Deletexoxo Lisa