:-)

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I am rejoicing in your happiness. Made me smile

with all that you wrote.

I had something similar with my dad when he was

started on Exelon and with each increase in

doses. It totally amazed me. Keep in mind that

my dad could only mumble out a " no " or " yes "

and even those weren't easily understood. This

had went on for atleast 2 years. Dad had been

taking Ativan (I didn't know it was bad for LBD)

and when I figured it all out I had it stopped. Not

to the NH's liking, that's for sure. But then I called

his neurologist and talked about dad's symptoms.

The neuro. suggested Exelon and said he would

call in an order for it. During my visits I would

do the 20 question process and usually get

no replies. I wanted to interact with dad yet

usually it was one sided. On one particular

visit I told dad I was going to get going and asked

if he wanted to walk me to the door. He always

understood, just didn't respond. WELL, this

particular day dad said... " I will walk you to the

door. " I literally missed a step. I spun around

and said... " WHAT?, Please say it again dad! "

He said, " I will walk you to the door. " Oh what

a glorious day!! From then on the staff talked

about how clear and more involved my dad was.

He would reply when someone talked to him.

I remember taking him to the front doors and

asking if he could tell me which truck was mine.

He pointed to it AND told me which one it was.

He talked about the times I would take him out

to feed the birds at his bird feeder...which had

happened atleast 8 or more months before this.

Unfortunately, with my dad, this time was

brief. He started progressing quickly in the

disease and stopped talking again. I know

it was from taking Ativan for a while. I also know

that I was given a gift, one that money can't buy

and can never be replaced. The gift of my dad's

voice again.

I am so pleased you, too, cherish this time

you have with your mom and that it is so special

to you. Thank you for sharing these and all

times with us.

Thinking of you and your mom and going to

wonderful memories of my dad...

Sandie

Des Moines, IA

dad, Merle, passed from LBD 9-20-02, age 65

wrote:

A few more details about yesterday...

Mom picked up everything I said to the social worker when we stopped

at the front desk. She never does this, as though she can't

comprehend our fast talk. Every comment/question I had for the social

worker, mom participated.

* Asked the time of the BBQ they're having next week - mom wanted to

know about it too and looked at the flyer.

* Before I could ask my questions mom made her important needs

addressed by letting him know that her eye hurts really, really bad.

I think it's awesome that she was able to verbalize that she was in

pain so that they don't brush it off -- she cried for them and now

they know they need to make her feel better real FAST.

* I asked if the social worker would like mom's dentist x-rays for

her files -- and mom asked what's that? I explained it was her x-rays

and she expressed that she didn't want anything done to her teeth. We

confirmed that we weren't going to do anything, that we wanted to

make sure she was OK by having the Xray but we would not do anything.

Which confirms that although before she can't express herself, she

does pick up what is going on around her. She understood that the

dentist wanted to know if we wanted all her teeth extracted b/c of

50% bone loss and bad gums and get her dentures (the family already

decided NO - but mom wasn't aware of our decision b/c it was

discussed without her presence via email) - and she was now able to

express that NO she doesn't want anything done.

* I gave the social worker a check for mom's personal needs account

and she wanted to know what that check was all about and we had to

explain that it was for the hair dresser and podiatrist appointments.

The social worker asked if mom would like her hair done and she

expressed not today... and he asked if next week would be good and

she expressed, yes, next week was a good time.

LOL -- it was amazing to have these conversations with the head

nurse, social worker, front desk attendant, mom, myself -- all

together. We all made decisions together.

The nurses must think I was insane when I passed by them on my way to

the kitchen to let them know that mom wanted jugo de naranja!! LOL

I kept saying she ASKED for naranja - orange juice in Spanish. I

think they think that I'm making this up! LOL It was awesome!

I brought mom a smoothie b/c she's into healthy foods. And she took a

sip, winced and told me " I don't care for that at all. " LOL And I

tried it and it was pretty nasty so her facial expression and comment

was dead on.

Hope I see the same tomorrow!! I hope, I hope, I hope!!