Re: sad day
06/06/06 12:57 PM
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Hey Chely,
So sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis. Alzheimers is an awful diesase for both the person and their family. 
My grandmother has had alzheimers for several years now. Her mother had it really bad, so we were sort of expecting it. It was pretty dorment until 2001-ish when she had a stroke. After that, it was pretty much downhill.
She has good days and bad ones. We find that she likes to revert back to a time where she was the most happiest - which means when my mom, aunts, and uncles were all little kids. She'll call some of my little cousins the names of my aunts and uncles.
However, we have also found that she remembers people who haven't changed much. My mom, me and my aunt haven't changed much appearance wise, so she is really good with our names. However, all the grandkids are growing up and changing so much that she just can't keep track.
Fortunately, my grandpa is so awesome at taking care of her. They have a schedule (which helps) and he monitors everything she eats to make sure she keeps her cholestoral and fat intake down. She usually has no problem remembering who he is, although every once in a while she'll talk about some handsome guy named Paul (my grandpa) who she married.  Sometimes my mom will stay with her while my grandpa goes to Reno overnight for a break, and although she will repeatedly insist that 'something isn't right', she is usually pretty okay with my mom being there.
Otherwise, we wear name tags at family parties now to help her out so she doesn't feel embarassed not to remember. She got frusterated at first that she couldn't remember anything or even say complete sentances, but now she's completely happy just to enjoy everything and is one of the happiest people I know.
Just thought I'd share some personal experience in hopes that it will help. Again, sorry about your mom's diagnosis. Being diagnosed with Alzheimers is always hard.
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- Jennifer
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