What it means to fight for your life. To fight for your physical independence. To fight for mobility.
I saw my Mom fight today. She's been confined to a wheelchair for almost a year after breaking her hip. Her medical advisors said they didn't want her to walk again. Yes "didn't is the key word." Easier for them to handle. Wheelchair until death. She has severe dementia and they said patients with dementia don't respond well to verbal commands in physical therapy. She is 85 years old.
But, today she said in her mind EFFF WHAT THEY THINK, i'm gettin outta this chair. She tried to get out. She couldn't get out of the chair. She kept rocking and pushing and finally accepted my outstretched hands for support and got out of the chair. She stood tall for 45 seconds for the first time in a year. It was such a glorious moment. I was so proud of her and proud to share this moment that I will never forget. My Dad was there too.
After 45 seconds she had to sit back down in her chair. This time she tried to get out of it herself and couldn't and yelled loudly "I CANTTTT." She is not one to speak much, so when she talks it really means something. But, she didn't scream out "I can'tttttt" to give up. No, she said mentally "I can't right now, I can't yet" and she pushed harder and tried again and I helped her and she stood up and took a step. I didn't want her to get too far away from her wheelchair so just helped her stand for a bit until she couldn't anymore.
When my Mom used to have a tough tennis match, she told me she would often think of her son going through tough training with the Navy SEALs and have what it takes to finish the match. I know she had that drive today. Thinking of family to help her get through it. And when the tries came to a stop (4 tries to stand up), she was happy and very affectionate, kissing my hand about 20 times in 40 minutes.
What a Good Friday it is today.
My Mom was also previously a top 5 ranked Tennis player in the nation in her age group and sponsored by Prince.
This is her <333
Down under picture?
Yeah Australia.
Family is everything, ya'll. I didn't really realize this until my 30s.
Amen to that
Isaiah_53_5 💎🙌💎🙌💎 that’s amazing that she has some fight in her. If she wants to get out of her wheelchair and you’re around, you can assist her out of her chair every time you visit. You don’t need permission from the doctors or anyone. You can take it further and borrow a gait belt from the facility to support her while she tries to walk along two stable objects for like 10 feet each way. For my dad who also broke his hip and had vascular dementia, I would move the facility’s sofa and table and create a makeshift parallel bar. Tow the wheelchair behind you and her as she walks when she wants to sit. It felt so good to have him moving and improving his circulation.
I’m not a doctor or anything, just someone who doesn’t believe in can’t. For our generation (Millenial and younger), the word “palliative care” is so antithetical to what we’ve been conditioned. That we can’t do anything for our parents when they reach their time and just watch them die. Will be interesting and inspiring how the next generations deal with end of life of parents (in a world of endless possibilities). I experienced this earlier than my peers due to having an old dad with heart disease, and no mom.
These stories will occur more and more. Only a matter of time.
You’re going through an amazing period of your life right now, witnessing some things people are too pre-occupied to see. Family above all else. Nothing is more important than blood.
You are an inspiration man -- this is the real stuff
Well done on this post. Happy for you and your mom.
Fighting the good fight. Well done!
Really touching story. Hope you’re able to spend Easter with her. Calling my parents tomorrow. Feeling like their relative health at their age is the greatest gift they could give me and my brother. We truly do only have so much time with our parents once we move out of the house.
That is a nice story. Thanks for sharing.
What caused her dementia in the first place
Its hard to say what caused it, but over the past 10 years there has been a gradual decline. First short term memory loss, then long term memory loss, now she can barely even speak.
This is amazing, I love to see it. I lost my mom a few months ago from cancer and watched this progression we thought would be years happen in a span of months. But it’s crazy how our perspective changed and what seemed like simple tasks like literally eating something or getting a smirk out of her quickly became the biggest wins that made everyone smile because we knew how hard it was for her to even to do that. So awesome that your mom is powering through like that
For all the jokes and comments you make on this site, I happy you had a Good Friday.
Kinda a badass, she gives off the vibe that she likes to prove people wrong. I hope she does it at least 1 more time.
I've seen this happen to a family member, and I know it's one of the hardest things to witness, and to wish you could do something to make it better. Also, when involving your mother, it is uniquely hard on a son, and is indeed heartbreaking. While difficult under the circumstances; enjoy these uplifting moments and memories, and take every opportunity to celebrate everything.
Cherish and celebrate every moment.
Great post.
Deserunt doloremque non quasi et qui. Et sint voluptas error odit explicabo ad ad omnis. Impedit in tempore culpa ex commodi placeat aut.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Sed voluptatem fuga odio adipisci. Ea molestiae optio hic. Illo et perferendis libero aut incidunt.
Blanditiis ab et a. Quibusdam deleniti pariatur reiciendis quae. Non quae qui aut quos sint ratione quia nihil.
Modi culpa dolor dicta ab. Eos officiis omnis repellendus. Ratione sapiente perspiciatis eius at aut qui non soluta. Suscipit est enim molestiae facere enim aliquam.
Voluptatum quae consequatur nihil beatae sed maxime. Sit esse cum eaque unde. Odit harum tenetur veritatis maxime maxime rerum distinctio.