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Alzheimer's -- My Mom, I Love Her So

One evening, several weeks ago, I received a call from the nursing home where my mom has lived for the past three years. One can imagine the uncertainty I felt when I answered the phone.
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My Mom My Hero

My Mom My Hero
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Alzheimer's -- My Mom I Love Her So

Mom & Me 2015

One evening, several weeks ago, I received a call from the nursing home where my mom has lived for the past three years. One can imagine the uncertainty I felt when I answered the phone.

Immediately the nurse said "everything's okay I just need to tell you that your mom was unresponsive today." As I heard the word "unresponsive" my heart sank. I asked many questions as she proceeded to explain what had transpired.

My husband said as he looked at me that I appeared to have lost all the color in my face. His first thought was that mom had passed away until he heard me repeating what the nurse was saying.

I did not sleep soundly that night fearful that I would get a call that mom had passed away. The next morning my brother rushed to the nursing home where tests were already being performed.

Mom's unresponsiveness only lasted for a few moments, yet it was something that was new and felt quite scary. The blood results found that mom (93 years in August), in several ways, scored like a 40-year-old. Her constitution is amazing, she is on no medication and, except for Alzheimer's and macular degeneration and she is the picture of health.

The next day I booked a plane to go and see her. Before leaving I called several times each day to make sure that she was doing okay. Each time I was told that she was running around in her Merry Walker. Mom bounced back rather quickly and I was happy that I was going to see her, even if it was just for three days.

After returning home my body felt stressed and my heart ached as if I was going through withdrawal. I missed seeing her and could not stop thinking about her. Again I kept phoning the nursing home to see how she was doing. Mom was doing fine, it was me who needed to "mend."

I kept thinking is she looking for me? Does she wonder where I am? Is she missing holding my hand, singing songs, or our silly conversations? Does she yearn to see me like a teenage girl, or am I in this all by myself? Is my heart hurting alone or can she also feel the pain?

I write as if she is my lover. No, she's my mother yet I love her in so many similar ways. I know the answers to all these questions for the second I am no longer in her sight, she does not know that I was even there. In fact, when I am with her, she does not always know that I am her daughter.

None of this matters for in my heart and I deeply believe that in hers, we share a bond that only a mother and daughter could feel.

MY MOM MY HERO -- A mother & daughter's new found love. Book by Lisa Hirsch.

Earlier on Huff/Post50:

Foods For Brain Health
Fish(01 of07)
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Eating two servings of fish weekly can provide brain health benefits since it is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids -- which are important for brain function. Having a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids has been linked to lower risks of dementia and stroke, and can help improve memory. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevendepolo/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" stevendepolo" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevendepolo/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="19"> stevendepolo</a>)
Nuts And Dark Chocolate(02 of07)
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Yes, chocolate is good for you! Dark chocolate has been found to sharpen focus because of the caffeine it contains. An ounce of nuts or seeds per day is a great source of vitamin E, which may slow cognitive decline. (credit:Alamy)
Blueberries(03 of07)
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Not only are these little berries delicious, research has shown blueberries may help to reduce the effects of Alzheimer's and dementia. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/basheertome/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" basheertome" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/basheertome/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="13" data-vars-position-in-unit="15"> basheertome</a>)
Herbs And Spices(04 of07)
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Next time you're whipping up some grub, turn to your spice rack for an extra brain boost. Spices and herbs may do more for your health than you realize. According to Dr. Daniel Amen, author of "Use Your Brain To Change Your Age," cinnamon balances blood sugar; garlic, oregano and rosemary increase blood flow to the brain; curry acts as an anti-inflammatory; and saffron can have anti-depressant effects. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/clayirving/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" clayirving" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/clayirving/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="12"> clayirving</a>)
Good Fats(05 of07)
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Don't eliminate all of the fat in your diet. Instead, focus on incorporating good fats. In fact, if your cholesterol drops too low, you may be at greater risk for depression, according to Amen and several studies on low cholesterol. So what exactly are "good fats"? Dr. Amen advises people to eat foods rich in omega-3s to promote brain health, including almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, fish, lamb, avocados and green leafy vegetables. Another added benefit of eating good fats? "Your vitamins are actually absorbed better when you eat them with a little bit of fat," said Dr. Amen."The American Heart Association recommends that unsaturated fats make up 18 to 28 percent of the calories in our diets," reports a Health.com article. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/andreanna/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Andreanna Moya Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/andreanna/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="9"> Andreanna Moya Photography</a>)
Cruciferous Vegetables(06 of07)
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Adding foods like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts could have great brain health benefits. These vegetables pack serious antioxidant power which helps protect the brain. One Harvard Medical School study found that women who ate more of these veggies lowered their brain age by one to two years, Prevention reports. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/adiereed/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" adie reed" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb645e9e4b0527153070853" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/adiereed/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5"> adie reed</a>)
Whole Grains(07 of07)
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A diet rich in whole grains can help stabilize blood glucose levels. By keeping levels steady, you can feel more energized and focused. (credit:Alamy)

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