Hugs in Hell. #atozchallenge Care for the Carers

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease. For her final 3 months I was her main carer. A privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on being a carer / care-giver.

Remember to care for the carers.  

Hugs in Hell

I knew she was having a hard day when after the third time we had got up to go to the toilet she refused to get out of her walker again -  I asked her for the twentieth time "What do you want to do... Where do you want to go?"

Genes. #atozchallenge Care for the Carers

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease (MND). For her final 3 months I was her main carer. A privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on being a carer / care-giver.

Remember to care for the carers.  

Genes

Nobody really knows what causes Motor Neurone Disease or Alzheimers Disease.

Mum had both, and as far as I know no-one in her family has had either disease.

Easter without her. #atozchallenge Care for the Carers.

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease. For her final 3 months I was her main carer. A privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on being a carer / care-giver.

Remember to care for the carers.  

Easter without her.

November 1st is All Souls day. Last year I attended the international mass held at the cemetery for the departed each year, with both my parents for the first and last time.  

Denying Degeneration. #atozchallenge - Care for the Carers

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease. For her final 3 months I was her main carer. A privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on being a carer / care-giver.

Remember to care for the carers.  

Denying Degeneration

One of the symptoms of Alzheimers/Dementia can be denial, it is also a defence mechanism. 

Conflicted. #atozchallenge Care for the carers.

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease. For her final 3 months I was her main carer, a privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on some of the stories and emotions that presented themselves during this time. 

Remember to care for the carers.  

Conflicted.

At some point I realised:

Encouraging her to eat was more like force feeding. 

Anxiety and Anger #atozchallenge - Care for the carers.

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor Neurone Disease. For three months I was her main carer, an honour I will be grateful for and cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on some of the stories and emotions that presented themselves during this time. 

Remember to care for the carers.  

Anger and Anxiety

Take a big deep breath in... 2 3 and 4.  

Hold it  2 3 4 5.  

Release 2 3 4 5 6 7. (Repeat.)

From the moment I learned that Mum had less than 6 months to live, I felt anxiety and anger stirring.