A Fight to Remember

I've been meaning to post about a million times in the last month or so about things here and there...Anson's first concert, Dad's birthday visit, and so on...but I have not gotten around to it. Today, I must.

Molly has been writing an article about her love for CrossFit, a style of exercise, and how it has been an integral part of her recent life. In particular, she writes about her life as the primary caregiver of our mother, who has Alzheimer's. Most of you know that, but I don't write much about it on the blog. It's difficult, and I don't come here to write about difficult things. I come here to share fun, silly, or exciting things that happen in the Adams/Ford households.

Mom and I outside her Colorado apartment (1999?).

The CrossFit Journal just published Molly's article, "A Fight To Remember," on their web site, Facebook page, Twitter, and so on. Go read it. I am so proud of her. I can't tell you how hard it has been for her to do, but she did it.

Over the past year, she asked me several times to look at the article and provide feedback, "when you are up for it, Morgan." She knows it's not something either of us can think or talk about without getting upset most of the time. I chickened out and avoided it, most of the time. It's been a rough year with Mom. Molly fought through it and delivered this wonderful piece.

Mom holding Charlotte just after she came home
from the hospital (2006).

It's been heartwarming to see such a loving and caring response to Molly's article, because Alzheimer's is a very mysterious, confusing, and painful disease. It's so difficult to explain to most people how it works, and how it has affected our mother and those who love her. It's a disease that most people think they know about from watching a subplot in a movie, or a "very special" sitcom episode, but like many stories, they only offer a blip of what it's like.

Mom and her brother Tom, with me and Molly,
at one of her favorite places, NYC at Christmastime (1976).

The article is not technically up-to-date regarding how Mom is doing right now, but for the article, that wasn't important. Although I don't like to dwell on it, I thought my closest friends and family should know a little more information about where things do stand.

Mom and I in her assisted living apartment (2010).

Mom has recently moved to nursing home level care. She doesn't know me and my family anymore, and is having difficulty recognizing Molly and who she is. She can't bathe or dress herself, and most times has difficulty feeding herself. Despite this, she is the youngest, most stylish, and most beautiful woman at her care center. So much so, that the patients and residents, and even the staff that don't work with her regularly, often mistake her for a visitor.

Mom, Molly, and I at the beach in North Carolina, a place
that always put peace in Mom's heart (2009).

She still loves to go on long walks around the facility or grounds (she is allowed this with supervision). One of her favorite things to do is to look through coffee table books about art and gardens, since she lost her ability to read years ago. Music and children make her smile, as does just about any flavor of ice cream! She can appreciate a loving touch, a friendly voice, and a happy face, even if she's not sure who it's from.

Anson, Charlotte, and Mom exploring the wooded trail
on the grounds of Mom's nursing home facility in Indianapolis (2011).

That's just snapshot, really, but I thought you should know. We love you, Mom.