And I Will Follow Him

 

Over the weekend, mom was quarantined to her room.  She had minor flu symptoms but because there were other residents with the flu on her floor, mom’s nurse did not want to take any chances so all day Friday and Saturday, mom was confined to her room including receiving and eating all her meals there too. We were informed that if mom’s condition did not worsen for 48 hours she would be allowed out of her room.

On Sunday Ron and I went to visit mom.  We were delighted to see that mom was by the nurses’ station sitting with her friends.  Mom was happy to see us both.  She wanted us to go to her room and see that there was not a room number on the wall anymore.

“What room number am I in?  People think I’m stupid because I don’t remember.”

“Mom, you are not stupid.  You know which room is yours.”

“Yes, but I don’t remember the number.”

Upon arriving at mom’s room she showed me that her room number was missing.  The reason the issue came up about the room number is because The Community* is currently remodeling mom’s floor so the numbers are off the rooms until the painting and wall papering is finished.

While I was straightening mom’s closet and checking her pillows for her, she asked for me to find her word puzzle book.  Mom said, “I would like to try again to do word puzzles.” 

Handing mom one of her books I said, “Mom, good for you.”

“Julienne, write my room number on my book so if they ask me again I can tell them.”  Today was an amazing time with mom she not only spoke in complete sentences.  She could actually hold a normal conversation the entire time.  I was so excited that Ron was with me to see her this way.

I wasted no time and wrote her room number on the back of her book and showed mom so she knew where to find her room number.  “Ok, good, Julienne.”

Mom likes her hands and arms rubbed with Aveeno lotion; she truly appreciates me remembering to do this for her without her asking me.  She enjoys the love and caring she feels so I try hard to remember to warm my hands prior to rolling up her sleeves and to be gentle with mom as her arms are extremely thin and fragile.

Ron wheeled mom down the hall towards the activity room.  Mom said, “He’s already seen that room.  Pass the room and let’s go down the hall by those chairs.” 

“Mom, we have never gone to sit at those chairs before.”

“I think we’ll be more comfortable,” mom commented.  I just smiled and continued walking down the hall.  Something was different about mom, she actually seems like she is feeling so much better.  She is definitely more coherent.

Ron said, “Mom, did you hear about the Pope?”

“Yes, what’s up with that?  Did he die?”

Ron explained to mom that the Pope sort of retired; he filled mom in on all the details and she listened intently.  Mom was always a religious person so I was not surprised by her interest.

 

I mentioned to mom that we had been to a funeral in the family and that one of our 57 year old cousins passed away from melanoma.  Mom shook her head, “So sad.” 

Mom asked, “How is Phyllis doing and her son?” We talked about them both for awhile and their present health condition. 

I also mentioned that Marion is turning 90 in April.  She smiled, “Oh yeah, that’s great.  How’s he doing?”  I informed mom that Jean is taking great care of him, but that he has been in the hospital a few times.

Then mom popped up with, “How old am I?” 

“You are a young 86.”

“Julienne, I lived longer than most.”

“You are right mom.”

“Julienne, tell me what I am supposed to say to God.”

“Mom, when God is ready for you He will come you do not have to worry.”

“And I will follow Him?” mom stated.  I thought to myself now where did this come from.

“OK, mom, when He comes, you can follow Him.”

“Julienne, write that on my book. So I can remember what you said when you are gone.”

I picked up mom’s book there was very little room to write anything on the back or front of the book.  I said the words as I wrote them, “The Lord when He is ready He will come to get me.”

 

Mom stated again, “and I will follow Him”.

 

 

“Yes, mom, I will add ‘and I will follow Him”.

“How come sometimes I can talk and sometimes I can’t?” mom said earnestly.

“You have a great question; I do not have a good answer.  I wish you could always talk so I could understand you.  Today is fantastic.”

“God bless you both.  Thank you for visiting me.”

“God bless you, too, mom.”

“God bless us everyone; even our enemies,” mom shouted.

“Mom, Tiny Tim said that first,” Ron said jokingly.

“Who is Tiny Tim?”  Mom was confused.  Ron told the story about Scooge, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim.  Mom did not remember the story.

“OK, go! You both were here long enough.”

 

All three of us held hands and prayed.   Mom did not hesitate; she could say every single word of the ‘Our Father’ right along with us.

Mom’s mood was one of the best we have seen her in a long time. These past two weeks mom’s speech and clarity has enormously improved.  No one can figure out what is happening but to say that dementia can be a roller coaster.  We are riding this coaster with mom right now and enjoying the good times we are experiencing.