I would say overall the year 2017 has been good to us! We have made it another year! I feel blessed, and hope you are all blessed in 2018!
Here are our top honest events that happened this year in 2017.
* - Let's start the count down - *
#12
#11
Our mom was moved into assisted living memory care. She has enjoyed it living at the assisting living place, and she has never complained about being there.
#10
Our mom turned 60 years old this year! She didn't know how old she was turning this year or last year.
#9
Our mom started wearing disposable underwear for the first time. Our mom refused to wear them prior years, and would tell me I could wear them myself, but she wasn't going to wear them. This year she started to wear them daily & she didn't refuse to use them.
#8
We noticed that our mom did not know her grandchildren or son's last name. All of their last names are the same as hers. She did not think they all have the same last names.
#7
#6
Our mom's cat, Tiger, got sick with cancer. RIP, Tiger!
#5
I made our blog available for the public to see. I had a feeling that wouldn't go away that I needed to share & educate others about Frontotemporal Dementia.
#4
Our mom's pains came back. She had stopped complaining about her pains throughout her bout with Frontotemporal Dementia. This is the first year that she started to complain about her pains that she had, prior to her FTD diagnosis.
#3
This is the first year that we have noticed that our mom didn't know the months or what year it has been. She hasn't been able to associate the holidays with which month it is, either.
#2
This is the first year that our mom let me help her shower. She needs assistance to shower now.
#1
Our mom's short term memory has been worse this year. It is the worst that it has ever been.
Our most trying moments were figuring out the incontinence issues, the flooded basement, and Tiger passing away. For me personally, it was having my mom go to assisted living. The thought of it, and the guilt I had, was very hard at the time. It has turned out to be one of the best choices we have made.
Our positive outlook - Our mom did not get sick during the year 2017. That's a big accomplishment. She would get sick at least once a year since she has had FTD. This year she made it without getting sick.
Our takeaway from 2017 - Be present. The "things" & "stuff" in life doesn't matter. It is the spending time with someone that matters the most. Our mom was able to walk away from her home full of "stuff" and none of the "stuff" mattered to her in the end. When I asked if she needed anything from her home her reply was "what's at my home?" That was very eye opening to me.
Happy New Year from us to you!
Thank you for your support in 2017!
Our mission is to help spread awareness to Frontotemporal Dementia!
