I began this place of sharing stories about my Mom, Anne Johnson, more than six years ago when she was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
Today this beauty celebrates her 76th birthday!
God has invited the two of us to continue our journey forward as I am now at home with her overseeing her daily and full time care where she lives here in the apartment we had built in our home. Since God confirmed this to me in February of 2015 I have been learning more about dementia (one of the results of NPH) and facing the inadequacies that I feel as a caregiver of my widowed mother. Reading, attending classes, asking questions, and wrestling to understand what medical professionals and hospital chaplains call a healthcare crisis today (Alzheimers and other forms of Dementia). At present more than 5.2 million people in the US have Alzheimers and other forms of Dementia. An estimated 35.6 million people worldwide have Alzheimers and other forms of Dementia. By the year 2050 the forecast for Alzheimers disease in the US is 13.2 million people. I notice God giving me the breath by breath grace to learn and lead, teach and tend.
Many people have asked me what I am doing and why I am not teaching. I believe the things I have been teaching our sons and the five years of students in classroom settings have been preparation for teaching my Mother now as her mind slows down. I remember three years ago when I began learning and teaching Latin. Learning a new language to teach it was very stretching for my mind. I notice I am learning to speak the “language” of dementia. Many of the songs, poems, stories and recitations I have taught children ages 3-10 years old - are also excellent to share with my Mom.
This summer I taught her how to cross stitch for the first time during our daily learning class.
We enjoy patio picnics daily!
Sunshine for Vitamin D and lots of water for hydration are important parts of our routine each day!
She continues to create with the new things she is learning. Watching her stitch and sitting with her in the “silence” she says she needs to concentrate has already humbled and taught me much. This is what she “gifted herself” that we created together for her birthday!
On Monday we will continue our “Story Cottage School” with American History beginning with Jamestown. I do not know what I will learn or what I will receive - or what Mom will learn or receive - but I walk by faith that Jesus will supply what both of us need in our desperate neediness as we continue to say "Hello Love" to the RICHNESS He is pouring out on us in our poverty!
Thank you for praying for us!
