Sometimes we laugh...sometimes we cry

Dear Friends,

With my surgery and the holidays, the last few months have been nonstop. We thought after Christmas everything would die down and we could relax, but life has thrown us a new turn.

It's sad because Mom knows her mind is getting worse, but we're blessed because we can be honest with each other. Sometimes she and I laugh about old age and sometimes we cry, but thank God we can still communicate!

Mom tells me she is having what she calls nightmares while she's awake and they upset her very much! Afterward, she can describe the "nightmare" and she knows her thoughts were not real, but seemed real at the time. I've read with vascular dementia she can have hallucinations and delusions--I suppose we are entering that stage.

Her neurologist explained it is a "disruption of deep areas of the brain" and is part of vascular dementia caused by wear and tear on her small blood vessels.

He said he is optimistic she can be helped with medication. He prescribed a few days of pills, and will adjust the medicine again on Monday. So far she is doing well. She had a very slow start this morning, but we went to lunch and got her hair done this afternoon. She told me this evening she felt great and was thanking God and Dr. Schmechel.

For now she's sleepy in the morning, and napping a little before dinner, but tonight after dinner she was awake, watering her plants, and was laughing! I hope the medication works and she isn't confused when you call, but if it happens, remember it's temporary and the next time you talk to her she may be just fine.

Love,
Marsha