On November 13, 2010 I gladly became the primary caregiver of my mother. She has Lewy Body Dementia, the second most common memory loss condition after Alzhiemers. I knew nothing about Lewy Body Dementia until I brought Mom to Indiana to live with me. My mother is a resident at the Waters of Covington, a rehabilitation center near our home. I would like to have her live with us but her care is more then one person can provide. The staff at the Waters fell in love with Mom immediately. She may be losing her memory and her ability to care for herself but she hasn't lost her sense of humor or her gentle grace. This blog is meant to be a journal of our days together.



On May 15, 2011 My Mother peacefully and fearlessly passed into the here after. Now I journey alone, yet not alone. I have a lifetime of memories.




Monday, May 16, 2011

What do I write now?

There is still a lot to be taken care of. I still haven't talked to Carl (my brother). He was suppose to call yesterday and didn't. Financial arrangements have to be discussed. Her things have to be cleared out of her room. I don't think I'll go to work today. Myron will, but that's OK. I need some time alone.

I can't believe I won't ever see her again. It's hard to imagine my life without her in it. My sorrow is for me only. I don't wish her back.

It took me awhile to find a funeral home to take her body. She had no money, no insurance. Most funeral homes want their money up front. Criticisms were voiced(not to me of course) about how disrespectful it was to leave her there for so long. But since she was being cremated as long as I didn't make a decision , I had her to go back to. I didn't and I finally made a choice. With the choice came the realization I would never see her again. And that my mother was being reduced to a carton of ashes. I had no idea how that would make me feel. It hurts -- it all hurts.


- Linda Shumaker uses BlogPress from my iPhone

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1 comment:

  1. Kathy LowreyMay 16, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    When my mother passed away in 2007, she too was cremated. I remember picking up her box and putting her in the front seat. I played the CD I had made for her memorial service and I drove around with her talking to her.
    We had to have her service quickly due to travel obligations of family members so her ashes weren't even present for her memorial service.

    I think the first thing I said was, "You missed a nice service"

    I guess you have to know us to get a smile from that.

    It's been almost 4 yrs and I still say "What just happened?"
    I know it's cliche. Give yourself time.

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