Hello again
I don't know if I have introduced my mother and I to you all.
My mother's name is Mary Rose Schmuland. Her maidian name is Jalbert. She was born October 12, 1928 in Westlock Alberta, to Denise and Luria Jalbert. Mary was born at home, in a log cabin, with the help of a midwife. She has a brother, also named Denise
She was married to her husband, my father, John Arthur Schmuland, for 60 years before he sucumbed to the terminal disease of Alzheimer's at 88 years old They have two daughter's Marilyn and Gail. And as we all know I am her son. Kristopher Wayne Arthur Schmuland. My given name was/is Wayne, but I am not to partial over this name, so I added Kristopher. Many years ago now. Much better, if I do say so myself. Only the family, that has nothing to do with me nor do they do anything to help Mary, call me Wayne. So I rarely here that name. But mom does call me this. And I am OK with that.
Mom, Mary is going to be 85 years old this October. And I am going to be 52 years old this May. I can't believe I will be this old. I have spent the last 10 years looking after my parents. All over the lowermainland. From Mission to Abbostford to Coquitlam and now White Rock.
I will say again, that I have had nor have any problems with traveling all over the lowermainland to take care of my father and mother and now just mom. I would not have it any other way. I love taking care of mom.
Things are changing. A new phase in her journey through Alzheimer's. Today mom was really aggressive. She was extremely happy to see me, she was slapping me allot tonight, and when I was feeding her dinner. I thought mom wanted a hug. When I went to hug her. Mom bit me, on the side of the face. I just said Ouch! I didn't react, as I never react to her. It was not soon after this that mom knew she bit me, and touched my face where she bit me. I know she knew it did hurt me. I was just surprised that this happened.
This is the first time that mom did this. I knew at this point things are changing, and not for the better. Now it is really important for me to move to White Rock. It is imperative that this happens soon. Actually right away. Mom now needs me even more. Any changes in our loved one's with this disease, must be met with closer contact, and being their more often. To show our loved one's that we care and are going to be their for them no matter what.
I try to explain this to the PGT and they just don't get it. Oh yea, the PGT did help me out to get mom some Vega one, supplement. Which I mixed with a smoothie I made for her. I just need to get another tub of this to give to the home. So they can mix it with her medication. Which she gets four times a day. This gets her more nutrition into her system. Something that will be good for her.
Yet it is the PGT that will stop this. Not me. I only want to do what is right for mom. And this is part of it.
Just like the bags I carry. I tell the PGT that I need one bag only, not the two that I carry now. They are hurting my back and legs. Everything in these bags are for mom's use. There is only my wallet, a jacket and my glasses in the bags that are mine. Everything else is mom's items. OK, my charger is in the bag as well. But I need it, so I can keep the phone working while I play music for mom.
Anyways today was the first time I really noticed my problem with my hearing. While I was in KFC the staff member asked me something. I didn't even hear her. I couldn't. I had to ask her to repeat herself several times. And then had to explain to her that I am loosing my hearing. It freaked me out. This is part of the disease Meniere's disease. Which there is no cure. It is not if I will loose my hearing, it is when.
Today I was dizzy and falling over many times today. It was not a good thing. I need hearing aids really badly. Especially after today. I have never felt so useless before. OK that is not true, I feel helpless allot when it comes to mom.
I know things to help her out, I just don't have the money to purchase the supplements or even the mirror box to help Mary with her left hand. I feel helpless as I need to be living in White Rock to be closer to her. I feel helpless because I can't do more for my mother.
It really hurts me that no one can see this.
I write this as a testament to what it is like to be a caregiver, what it is like for Mary to have this terminal disease. And what happens on a daily basis' How we both feel. And to maybe illicit some help from the world we live in.
My whole goal is to be out in White Rock in my own place to be there for mom and to have her over for visit's.
I pray to GOD daily thanking HIM for healing mom and asking for help to move to White Rock and for everything else that is needed to take care of mom.
Again, my days are 10 hour days. I spend 3 or 4 hours with mom and the rest is traveling.
I do ask for help from anyone who wishes to do so
GOD bless and good night
Kris Schmuland
