Changes

I am going to fast forward a bit because those first couple years were like nothing had changed.  My mom was still cooking holiday dinners and remaining active. 

Its the third and four year that things started to become obvious.  I seen a lot of tripping over her own feet at first, to falling trying to shovel her driveway and even at Walmart over a sign in their garden area.  She cannot even come in our upstairs in my house anymore to see my sons renovated room and lives in a house with a basement...so the stairs def concern me!!  I have had to take her to the ER because of falls....again luckily just a sprain but took forever to heal and caused her a lot of problems, and you already know what I am thinking...COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE!

I took over holiday dinners and I love to cook, but she just couldn't do it all anymore and that was heartbreaking to see.  She could no longer sew....I have seen this woman mending everyones clothes and making a wedding dress to not being able to do what she so enjoyed! 

She is still driving and does well.  But I cannot let my kids ride with her any longer.  Shes accidently drove into a construction zone following a semi, and gotten pulled over because she crossed the middle line and someone called the cops....on the way to the hospital when her granddaughter was in labor.  They made her park the car and brought her up.  Which I so appreciated, but again devastated to see such progression.  I know soon, very soon I will have to make her give that up and I know it will break her.  She remains active, which is good...shopping, hs basketball games with friends, and church.  But soon no driving means we will just have to find another way....and we will.

Shes pretty secretive about her condition and the dr visits...its always been like that in my family.  Annoying!  But she will tell me things, which I guess is a start.  So with Parkinsons like many shes had anxiety, sleeping problems and incontinence problems. 

Very recently its been falling asleep....standing up, during conversations.  Its very common with Parkinsons and the medications she takes to ease the symptoms.  But very concerning...specially mixed with the driving.  What if she falls asleep, hurts herself or kills someone else. 

I have got to make some very tough decisions here real soon....and its not going to be nice.  My mom has become argumentative, and so unlike her old self.  I pick my battles and this is one I am going to have to put the gloves on and fight!

Being told my Mom has Parkinsons Disease...

I had heard of Parkinson's Disease, but those are diagnosis that only other people will hear...???  Well not this family.

I can remember the day like it was yesterday, it was spring a warm day out...my mom called me to ask me to come over, she needed to talk to me.  My grandmother had just passed away not too much before this time and I feared the worst.  But let me tell my first thought...cancer.  It just seems to be so widespread...my father had it and passed away in 2001.  But regardless of what I knew it was serious for her to call me to come over rather then discuss it on the phone. 

I arrived, we went to her back porch and we drinking her famous sweet tea.  And after beating around the bush she told me.  I went to the doctor for some symptoms I was having and I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.  I was devastated to hear it, but in reality she was no different to me.  So it was hard to accept along with the fact she was my mom and I think no matter what it is, you go through some denial about whats going on. 

I left, came home and looked up and read up on everything I could get my hands on and then reality of devastation hit me.  I was reading on how her life was going to change and it was heartbreaking.  For that moment I thought I am not going to dwell on what life will be like....but just that its good right now, and she seems well besides some minor tremors in her hands.