Fading from Memory - Comments

Hoarding - ugg boots

ugg boots — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:39:06 +1100

Your writing is very elegant, very vivid and lively, I really like you, wish you continued to write better articles, I will often try to concern, oh!

Fading From Memory - Patty McNally Doherty

Patty McNally Doherty — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:46:43 +1000

Goodbye, Michael. Thanks for all you wrote and shared. It was just great having you along.

Fading From Memory - redcedar

redcedar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:24:25 +1000

Mike,

For the reader, this is a wonderfully satisfying final entry to your long long story, with both a sense of the closing of a chapter, and the unexpected opening out into a new (and old) setting and time. Remarkable, as the entire blog has been.

Like your parents, mine have both died since I began following your story. Yes, they're fading into the whole, and the worst of the experience of taking care of them has blessedly dimmed. One last time though, I want to tell you how important your blog was to me while I was going through it. Your unsparing clarity (and sometimes hilarity) made you a bracing companion.

The end game - karen

karen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:57:27 +1000

I think we have moms will all in tack. Our problems are not having enough money for all her needs but having to much money for help from the gov. I couldn't hire someone to watch my mom because it cost more than my paycheck and mom had too many resources for help paying for a caregiver. She could not afford to pay for the caregiver either. We finally have Hospice coming out which is great . But it took 3 yrs for her to be able to get Hospice and that means she is getting worst. She is not End Of Life "thank god". But it still sucks.http://alzheimersandmomblog.blogspo...

The end game - Gail Rae Hudson

Gail Rae Hudson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:40:21 +1000

Sounds exactly like what I am doing, with a bit of help from my sisters, one of whom, with her husband, is still the executor, although we are in the process of getting that changed, since my sisters decided to elect me sole heir. It is a long process, even though it seems as though it should be much simpler, but, at least, at every juncture, what is required is straightforward and easy to manage and there are no disagreements to negotiate.
Good to hear from you again, Mike. I hope, otherwise, all is well, or, at least, interesting, for you!

Forward - ElderGuru.com

ElderGuru.com — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:13:02 +1000

Good luck sorting all of that out. I hope your blog helped you through the process.

5BX - Ian Coleman

Ian Coleman — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:27:04 +1100

I'm 57 now, and I was first introduced to the 5BX in 1963, when I was 11. I have done a version of it on most days ever since. The only exercise that has proved a little risky is the sit-up. If I do that one too ambitiously I end up with a mild backache, that goes away in a few days. Also, the push-up is, I think, a dangerous exercise for anyone with heart problems, and should be done in moderation. I have heard of more than one exerciser who had a heart attack while doing push-ups or bench presses. Something about that movement puts a strain on the heart.

Regarding the problems of tall people, I am 6 feet-4. Along about the age of forty I sprained both my knees (on separate occasions for each) by running too hard. I think my height made me prone to knee sprains because my shins are so long that the leverage they exert on my knee tendons was just too great for their strength and elasticity to bear.

On the other hand, aerobic exercise is very important for tall people, because we must work to improve our circulation. Our feet and hands are farther away from our heart than those of shorter people, and those longer veins and arteries offer more length for blockages to occur.

I remain quite healthy for my age, and I attribute this to the 5BX. Also, truth to tell, I diet, and I have managed to keep my weight and waist size fairly close to what they were in my young adulthood.

I hope this post is helpful to somebody out there.

Forward - Krista

Krista — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:02:44 +1100

I have stumbled on your blog. I have enjoyed reading some of it. My dad has Alzheimer's and he is getting really bad. I always look for support from others.

Have a nice day!

Krista

New phase - Hoolie O'Hanlon

Hoolie O'Hanlon — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:12:26 +1100

Our sincere condolences from the O'Hanlon clan. If we were there we'd brush your clothes, too. It's just how we Irish are: familiar and informal as all get out!

New phase - Mona Johnson

Mona Johnson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:00:37 +1100

Mike,

I'm sorry to hear about your parents. I hope you realize how good you were to them, and how valuable your chronicle is to other families.

You might know that Gail Hudson's mom (The Mom and Me Journals) died 2 days before yours - much of our little "circle" is moving on to a different life.

Thanks for telling your story.

Mona Johnson

New phase - Patty McNally Doherty

Patty McNally Doherty — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:18:10 +1100

Thank you, again, for your thoughtful description of Alzheimer's disease and the role it played in the lives of your parents, siblings and self.

More like Fading to Memory. I'll miss them.

Together - Gail Rae Hudson

Gail Rae Hudson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:28:13 +1100

Mike, Hi!
Thought I'd take some catch up with your posts. I'm relating to the business talk and joking you mention...very much like my last week.
I wanted to note, because I think you'll find this curious, that my mother, a few days before her death, also continued to drink holding her cups but, as was your mom, she was quickly distracted and allowed the cups to tip, dripping the contents on her lap, sometimes, before I was able to snatch them; although she refused to use a straw until two days before her death. It is assumed, as well, that my mother died of a heart attack. Sets me to wondering...

And now mum goes - Elle

Elle — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:38:17 +1100

Dear Mike
What a journey you've shared with us all. So sad that it had to be at the latter part of your parent's life. I'm sure there would have been many wonderful stories to tell when they were young. I'm sure that over the years you will recall them all with a chuckle.
I wish you and your siblings all the very best and all I can say is that you enjoy your life to the fullest.
Thank you very much for sharing with such candour and good humour.
Elle

And now mum goes - Patty McNally Doherty

Patty McNally Doherty — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:53:54 +1100

Funny that you popped in to see your mom just the other day. And that Rachel did, too. You didn't have lunch with your dad when he asked, you did so much more. You remained an engaged son, for both him and your mom. You didn't just dismiss their state of affairs and ignore their plight. You dealt with it. All of it. Remember the remote camera venture? And the hike when you would up carrying his stuff? And the device you made to hide the key? I may not be recalling all of this correctly, but your blog documents all of it. Years of it.

And you were honest. You spoke as truthfully as possible about not just the events of Alzheimer's but what they meant to you.

Words cannot adequately express the admiration and respect I have for the sheer volume of what you did for your parents, your siblings, and everyone fortunate enough to follow your story.

On a side note, Gail Rae Hudson's mom - whom she referred to as The Ancient One - passed away on Monday.

My thoughts are with you,
Patty

And now mum goes - SiouxB

SiouxB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:53:26 +1100

I've been a reader of your blog for the past year or two, although you wouldn't know it because I'm an inveterate lurker. Your consistency in blogging your family's saga has been impressive and very helpful to me.

You and your siblings have done a truly admirable job caring for your parents through some very tough times. I've appreciated your candor and empathized with your reactions to the various indignities that are visited on both parents and children during the caregiving process. I only hope my 2 brothers and I can do as well for our parents.

My thoughts are with you during this last chapter of the saga. Take care and be well.

And now mum goes - Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:28:08 +1100

Mike
You all did a fantastic job of caring for you parents; I have read your blog from start to the sad finish and have nothing but admiration for you and your family.

My thoughts are very much with you all now as you say your final farewell to your dear Mum.

Blessings to you all from Staffordshire, England
Dawn

Clearing up - Cailey

Cailey — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:07:44 +1000

I second Maggie's comment on thinking before tossing. As long as you have it, you can always toss it out, sell it or give it away. Once it passes out of your hands, though, you can't get it back even if you change your mind about wanting to keep it. The inconvenience of having too much stuff everywhere is offset by the great increase in positive consequences to the very thoughtful disposition of effects.

Been there and thinking of you all,
Cailey

Clearing up - Maggie

Maggie — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:38:29 +1000

PS I loved the pack ice simile and ice-berg metaphor. I so know what you mean!

I'll let you know when I get photos up - maybe next week if life doesn't take over again. A lot of our ice-bergs have heaped up over each other - not enuff floor space!

Clearing up - Maggie

Maggie — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:23:35 +1000

I really feel for you - going through papers is necessary, but it takes a helluva long time... And then you have to do it again to double-check you haven't missed anything important. I'm on the 3rd or 4th trawl now, and am still turning up papers that may be important.

You can barely get into our house as we clear the flat for a possibly impending sale (we hope - had one sale fall through already).

I'm thinking of taking some "before" photos of our living room so I can track how it improves when I get time and energy to begin sorting it. (we have lawyer probs that are stressful, so neither of us are feeling much like getting on with sorting, besides there's not time as the legal stuff has to take priority)

I found it helpful to get right away to get a break when we could. Is it possible for you to do that? Not living in the middle of the sorting helped clarify things for me. At least I felt it did!

We've had some stressful dealings with lawyers the last couple of weeks, so are hoping to get off for the weekend tomorrow. Husband is one of the most patient and long-suffering folks I know (he must be to stay married to me!), but even he is beginning to tear his hair out!

I hope that you can find the strength to go through all the stuff, but bear in mind it's important to not chuck things out too quickly - we are hanging on to some stuff until we feel more able to make rational decisions.

Best wishes from Liverpool

Excavations - Gai Rae Hudson

Gai Rae Hudson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:39:50 +1000

I'm catching up, again, Mike...this time it's been a while longer than usual, so I was surprised, but not shocked, to read of your dad's death.
I want you to know that I am very, very grateful that you've continued with your meticulous candor as you've reported about the end of your dad's life, and have continued through your reactions. They are particularly interesting and, sometimes, oddly, inspirational for me, personally.
You (and your family) are in my gentlest and most concerned thoughts. Carry on.