Aunt Helen ?< !?&*?@#

Mom has been talking, often lately, of people she remembers that were important to her years ago. Last Fri. at lunch, she mentioned 2 or 3 times that her youngest brother's widows name was Helen. She thought that was pretty incredible that her brother would have married someone with HER name.
Yesterday Maggie took Mom to see Aunt Helen. When talking to Mom last night, I asked her how her day went. She replied "good, we went to see my youngest brothers widow.....and can YOU believe her name is Helen too !?"

What Time is it?

This morning at 5:30, Maggie was awakened by Helen who asked her "are you going to sleep all day? It's almost sundown!" That would suggest Helen was up all night thinking it was day. That's a pretty major disorientation. She and Maggie are going to Kennesaw, GA. to see a cousin this weekend. Maggie still drives and I'll let her know that's imperative. Stay tuned.... R.

P.S.

Lest I leave on a depressing note, Helen improved back to her own best self as the week progressed. She and Becky did some serious shopping today and Helen was energized by it in a good way. R.

Monday Tuesday and Wednesday (and last Friday)

What a way to start the week. I called Helen Monday morning to tell her I would be late because my wife said "the roads are icy" and wait until later. My mistake was underestimating the extent of her Short-Term Memory loss as I explained that I would be a little late, but told her to take the green lid that said Monday on it and to take her medicine. Cindy went over there and called me saying that the whole week's worth was missing, she and I both went over there and found that Helen had put some pills back in the box. I don't know why that was, but there they were, back in the medicine box. Go figure.

Tuesday Helen had what I'm pretty sure was a mini-stroke the night before. She was rummaging through about 20 photographs over and over and over, forgetting pictures she had just looked at. Plan A was to engage her in conversation but she would not take her attention off the pictures. It was as if I wasn't there, which was disconcerting. Plan B, a television western, which finally got her focus off the pictures and after that she was better, just not completely. It was decided that I would stay with her 24 hours a day.

Wednesday I heard her making noise about 4 a.m. but her bed blanket was already folded up and I'm not %100 sure how long she had rummaged around the house as if she was looking for something. It is my opinion that that is exactly what she was doing as all of the things she kept from her scavenger hunt were old memorabilia of Ed as a little boy, Ed's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother and some photos of her children. We sat together on the couch while she explained each picture to me. Bottom line, in my opinion she was hunting Long-Term Memory stuff which also is why I come there in the morning, I notice things rearranged.

Also, Friday the 12th, she had turned on and left on all 4 stove eyes and was nowhere ti be found. There was enough water still in the 2 teapots to save them. Not good. Another reminder that her Short-Term Memory loss really quite extensive, but there are times when it's better and times when it's not. It seems that morning that she had gone off with this country singer named Billy Byrd. Where they went and why I don't know. They were at Sun Trust bank. I know that much, as Helen came home with her usual $800 in 10s and 20s but nothing more.

I apologize for not posting more frequently. I just forget (is AZD contagious?) and will be posting more frequently in the future. Meanwhile, give Helen a phone call when you can. She likes hearing from her kids. R