“I need to report my father’s death.“ It seemed surreal, but there I sat on my parents’ couch two days after my father had passed away, uttering those words to a Veterans Affairs representative. At the direction and advice of my dad’s health team’s social worker, I made the call and followed the prompts until […]
dementia
I Miss My Papi
As my father’s dementia has progressed over the last 10+ years, more and more parts of the man I grew up with and once knew have slowly (and sometimes rapidly) faded away. There’s no denying that both physically and mentally, my papi is different. To look at him now, one would not recognize him to […]
Prepping for a Hurricane with Aging Parents
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and now Maria have affected so many people over the last few weeks. Here in Florida, we’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks preparing, waiting for, and then recovering from Hurricane Irma. While my household was extremely lucky and we’re safe and sound, we have family scattered throughout various parts of Florida that are […]
50 Years of Marriage…Forgotten
This week, my parents will be celebrating 50 years of marriage. It’s an incredible accomplishment and one not many couples achieve. While it may seem like this would be a joyous occasion full of celebration, it’s actually another reminder of the sadness that is dementia. Well, I suppose it’s bittersweet, really. My mami, siblings, extended […]
Putting It All Out There…
If I can be honest with you, friends, I will share that so far 2017 has not been treating me well. What normally kicks off a season of positive change and excitement for most people, has not been so for me. While there are many things I can be (and am) grateful for, there have […]
