OK, so I am going to try to type this like it is easy and not life-changingly horrible at all. My Mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Well actually, the dementia specialist said that Alzheimer's can never be confirmed until autopsy but as it progresses, you can rule out other things such as vascular dementia. But according to the dementia specialist, our original diagnosis of vascular dementia (from Mom's Primary Care Physician) was, instead, probably Alzheimer's. She says all signs point towards it. How did we get here? I really need to know. This disease is the one disease my Mom has been afraid of her whole life so why would God allow her to get it?

About a year ago, I noticed major memory problems in my Mom, to the point I kept asking my Dad about it. Finally, he asked me to quit asking him things because I was making him paranoid. Hmmm. I wondered if my OCD would allow me to quit asking? I didn't have to find out because my oldest brother, who lives overseas as a Missionary, came in and he and his family were alarmed at my Mom's behavior. Of course, my Dad listened to him because he isn't an "hysterical female". Whatever, Dad. Anyway, Dad took Mom to their Primary Care Doc (who is very reputable so I trusted him) and evidently the Dr. asked Mom some questions and talked with her and what-not and told my Dad she was fine. I was really relieved, even though at the pit of my stomach I had a nagging feeling that wasn't the end of it. Plus, I had a new Grandson that I was devoting every spare minute to (my choice entirely) and I guess I had tunnel vision when it came to him. I get to babysit for him every other week while his parents work and my daughter's mother-in-law watches him the other week. And on my off weeks, I am constantly looking for a reason to babysit or for him to spend the night, etc. To say I was totally absorbed in my grandson would be a complete understatement.

So Mom is starting Alzheimer's medications i.e. Aricept and Namenda. These two medications are supposed to slow it down. We shall see...........