"I'm not an expert on Alzheimer's disease, but I am an expert on loving someone who has it." – Lauren Dykovitz
When I was 12 years old, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was getting ready for basketball practice one night, when I heard her whispering on the phone to my Aunt Diane. It sounded like something was going on, but she was trying to hide it. I asked her what she was talking … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence
For those who don’t already know, I make a gratitude list after every FaceTime call with my mom and dad. I used to dread FaceTiming with them and I would hang up feeling so depressed. It made me not want to FaceTime with them. I would avoid it at all costs. I knew I had … Continue reading Here’s Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal
A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to the beach for a few days. It was a much needed mini-vacay to relax and unwind. I was sitting there on the beach one day, reading a mindless, light book, when it hit me. It had been hours since I thought about my mom and … Continue reading Don’t Let Alzheimer’s Steal All of Your Joy
Guilt. Everyone feels it. Everyone talks about it. Everyone tries their best to avoid it by doing the right thing. But, no one ever tells you that there really is no way around it. Sometimes, no matter how many good things you do, you still find something to feel guilty about. This is especially true … Continue reading The Guilt Will Bury You Alive, If You Let It
My mom went all out for St. Patrick’s Day in 2009. She started planning it weeks ahead of time and invited all of us over to have ham and cabbage that night. I remember thinking how random it all seemed. Sure, we were a bunch of Mc’s, but no one had ever made a big … Continue reading A St. Patrick’s Day Lesson
My husband and I are currently under contract on a beautiful house here in Florida. For the first time, I am actually excited about living in Florida. Hell, this is the first time in a very long time that I’m actually excited about anything at all. I’m just not a very excitable person. As I’ve … Continue reading A Life Outside of Alzheimer’s
Welcome to Episode 4 of The Life, Love, and Alzheimer's Podcast! As an Alzheimer’s caregiver, resentment can become an overwhelmingly familiar feeling. We resent friends and family who seem to have disappeared from our lives at a time when we needed them the most. We resent them for not helping out or stepping up to … Continue reading Episode 4: Let’s Talk About Resentment
Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s the little things…”? Of course you have! Everyone has either heard someone say that or has said it themselves. Why? Because it’s so true! The little things in life are often the best things. I often get more excited about the little things than I ever do about … Continue reading It’s the Little Things
The hardest part of moving 1,000 miles away from home is leaving my mom and dad. Although I know that my mom is being well cared for, it upsets me that I’m not there. I am no longer one of the people taking care of her. The guilt is unreal. Not only that, but I … Continue reading See Ya Later, Alligator
