About seven years ago, my mother started saying that she was forgetting things, that her brain was turning to mush, and she was losing her mind. We knew what it was, but encouraged her to be positive. Now, seven years on, dementia has taken its toll, and my mother, the head of our family in many ways, has lost most of her speech and is reduced to repeating the same phrases over and over.
My inability to deal with this massive shift in our roles has been the most difficult; seeing my pillar of strength reduced to a completely dependent and helpless being is more than I can tolerate. I am angry for her, and for losing my mom without losing my mom. I want the world to know who my mom was and what she did for my sister and I, and not to only see what is left of her.
The best way I can do this is to share images of her, and stories of her life, the choices she made that brought us here to Canada, and document the last years of her life.
The more I lose her, the more I realize she is to be loved, cherished and respected.
Mom, I can't tell you any of this any more, so I will show the world what you mean to me.
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