Author Archives: daughter3

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About daughter3

My mom has Alzheimer's disease. She's 91 and lives in a nursing home. She has three daughters. I'm her youngest.

Boxing Day

Posted on January 1, 2018 by daughter3

I walk down the hallway toward my mom, who is leaning against her walker with her friends surrounding her. They notice me and wave as I approach. She sees me, but she doesn’t wave, and when I come up alongside … Continue reading →

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Changes

Posted on October 4, 2017 by daughter3

“I have to pee,” my mom said, moments after I arrived for our visit. We were entering her room, and so I turned her right around and took her into the hall bathroom. The sink in her room was broken, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Meaning

Posted on August 16, 2017 by daughter3

When I walk into the TV room where my mom sits with the other residents, they are all motionless in wheelchairs and arm chairs. While they’re facing the TV set, their eyes are wandering or down, or to the side, … Continue reading →

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Mother’s Day

Posted on May 30, 2017 by daughter3

I didn’t visit my mom on Mother’s Day. I had something else to do, and I couldn’t be in two places at once. I figured I’d buy her a Mother’s Day card at Target that night and visit her the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Carmen

Posted on February 14, 2017 by daughter3

Carmen* is sad. She’s been looking that way for weeks now, maybe even for months. She doesn’t smile when I get her attention like she used to. And she almost never looks up. Yesterday, I saw her daughter Bianca* as … Continue reading →

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Coloring

Posted on November 21, 2016 by daughter3

My mom was such a simple person — on the outside. She never lied. Or cheated. Or stole. Or smoke or drank, for that matter. She believed in God and prayed, and she loved her children. She was nice and … Continue reading →

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L’Shanah Tovah

Posted on October 12, 2016 by daughter3

“HA-va Nagila, HA-va Nagila, HA-va Nagila Ve-nis mech-A!” The musician was singing with energy and joy, and people were getting up to dance. “What is he singing?” my mom asked. “Hava Nagila,” I said. “What does that mean?” she asked. … Continue reading →

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Being There

Posted on September 14, 2016 by daughter3

“Is my butt bigger than that girl’s butt?” my mom asked, pointing at a passing woman. We were in the Hebrew Home sculpture garden, celebrating Grandparents Day with a couple hundred residents and guests. I almost knocked us both over … Continue reading →

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Some Days

Posted on August 12, 2016 by daughter3

The bathroom door opened, and my mom stepped out. Her face lit up when she saw me. “I didn’t know you were here!” she said with excitement and affection. She stepped closer and hugged me, resting her head against my … Continue reading →

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Conversations

Posted on July 29, 2016 by daughter3

When I arrived at the Hebrew home at 3 PM, I found my mom in bed under the covers. She was facing the window, so she couldn’t see me as I entered. Without announcing my presence, I sat on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments