After my mom’s birthday each year, my family and I begin our fundraising for the yearly Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year, after she has turned 60, we are asking for something different. After being diagnosed with frontal-temporal dementia 6 years ago, my brother and I have witnessed what true strength, perseverance and love looks like; and it looks a lot like our mom. Strength has freckled arms that still open its hands every now and then to hold ours. Perseverance has legs that, despite growing thin, still stand. Love has a heart that has continued loving for her family. Never once in these 6 years has my mom shown fear or anger about her circumstance in front of my brother or myself. What she has shown, is how to commit to yourself and to the ones you love with everything you’ve ever had. Our mom worked very hard before this disease unfairly took so much from her and our whole family. She saved and she saved and she saved. Her conservative and endearingly cautious nature has been able to support her with the many needs she has had thus far. Now, we have exhausted our options financially. Less than a month ago, after her landlord made the decision to sell her apartment, we had to make the difficult and rushed decision of having our mom be in a nursing home. The cost of her care is now higher than ever. Throughout the last few years, our mom has been under the 24/7 care of our private aid, Cleo. Under her care and compassion, our mom has surpassed any and all timelines that doctors have given her. My mom loves Cleo; she trusts Cleo, and Cleo loves her. Nursing homes can be a very scary place and, with Cleo’s care, we know our mom is as safe and cared for as she can be. Now, with nothing but humility and desperation, I ask you for your help. I ask you as a daughter wanting to give her mother the care that she once gave me. I ask you as a woman trying to grasp on to everything I can still learn from the hero I see each day. I ask you as a human being wanting to give another human being the comfort that they deserve at the end of their journey here. I wish there was a world in which I could get her out and take her in, I wish there was a world in which money did not stand in the way of life, I wish there was a world in which my mom did not have to fight this battle. This is has been the hardest month of our lives. The money we graciously receive will be used towards keeping Cleo by my mom’s side. It will also be used towards supplies/incidental expenses for my mom’s day to day needs. Should there be an opportunity to move her into a short-term rental, it will go towards rent there. Any remaining funds will go towards end-of-life expenses. Whatever remains, if anything, will then be donated to a Dementia/Alzheimer’s related charity in my mom’s name. Please, if circumstance allows, my mom and my family would be eternally grateful for any and all support. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to us. Our mom was quick to volunteer and give to others. Quick to sacrifice herself. Quick to support my brother and I on our wide-eyed adventures. She did everything, even when life would give her nothing. Now, we want to give her as much of the world as we possibly can while we are still able to place it in her hands. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Our mother’s children, Lauren and Evan
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