snugd35
Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2011
- Messages
- 13
- Reason
- Loved one DX
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- US
- State
- Ohio
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- cg
I'm new to the thread. I guess I just needed to let some things out...please offer any advice.
My grandmother was diagnosed in Jan with ALS. We have suspected for probably two years. She slowly started to lose movement in her arms. Last year she was falling a lot. She no longer can feed or dress herself. She since has start having trouble holding her head up and trouble with her legs where they gave her braces for both. She is full dependent on my grandfather.
I have a friend who's mother had passed in November from ALS so I do know what is to come and I've been trying to prepare myself for it. I knew it would be hard but with the holidays it seems to be getting worse and worse as the time goes on. My friend told me that by the time her mother had passed, yes she was a wreck but the grieving process was different, that you grieve from the day you hear of the diagnosis until the final day. I am extremely close to my grandmother. She is a very religious person and cause of that I find church, one of our many things we've always done together, to be extremely hard. It is because of her that I have as strong of faith as I do. My grandparents and I both we active in the church choir and due to having a small, declining church, we no long have choir. A few of us have missed singing familiar hymns so they have let my grandmother pick a list. Every Sunday we sing a song from the list. Palm and Easter Sunday's hymns were the hardest. Also the though of it possibly being our last together in church or at all. It's so hard for me not to think of what is to come and its hard not to focus on that. I'm trying to spend every chance I can with her, mostly Sundays and if I cant make it to church I still visit. I have more respect and love for than I could every explain. My grandparents helped made me the adult I am today. I would never be where I am now in my faith if it wasn't for them.
It also frustrates me when certain family who isn't around for months try to show up on holidays and try to jump in to help. We have every year since I was little gone to a Mother/Daughter gathering at our church. Certain people jump at the chance to show off to others and help out but on any other day are never around. Every Sunday my father and I help get my grandmother in and out of the car into the wheelchair and into the pew. At the Mother/Daughter gathering I feel like thats a tradition I share with my grandmother and felt like someone was trying to take it over, someone who is never around and never has helped her before. I did feel a little better when someone commented to my mom that I was very good with my grandmother. I would do anything I could for her. I dont always jump to help when my grandpa is around because they two have a routine down and she likes him to help. I try not to step on any toes.
Any advice on how to deal with everything, any is appreciated. Thanks for letting me vent.
My grandmother was diagnosed in Jan with ALS. We have suspected for probably two years. She slowly started to lose movement in her arms. Last year she was falling a lot. She no longer can feed or dress herself. She since has start having trouble holding her head up and trouble with her legs where they gave her braces for both. She is full dependent on my grandfather.
I have a friend who's mother had passed in November from ALS so I do know what is to come and I've been trying to prepare myself for it. I knew it would be hard but with the holidays it seems to be getting worse and worse as the time goes on. My friend told me that by the time her mother had passed, yes she was a wreck but the grieving process was different, that you grieve from the day you hear of the diagnosis until the final day. I am extremely close to my grandmother. She is a very religious person and cause of that I find church, one of our many things we've always done together, to be extremely hard. It is because of her that I have as strong of faith as I do. My grandparents and I both we active in the church choir and due to having a small, declining church, we no long have choir. A few of us have missed singing familiar hymns so they have let my grandmother pick a list. Every Sunday we sing a song from the list. Palm and Easter Sunday's hymns were the hardest. Also the though of it possibly being our last together in church or at all. It's so hard for me not to think of what is to come and its hard not to focus on that. I'm trying to spend every chance I can with her, mostly Sundays and if I cant make it to church I still visit. I have more respect and love for than I could every explain. My grandparents helped made me the adult I am today. I would never be where I am now in my faith if it wasn't for them.
It also frustrates me when certain family who isn't around for months try to show up on holidays and try to jump in to help. We have every year since I was little gone to a Mother/Daughter gathering at our church. Certain people jump at the chance to show off to others and help out but on any other day are never around. Every Sunday my father and I help get my grandmother in and out of the car into the wheelchair and into the pew. At the Mother/Daughter gathering I feel like thats a tradition I share with my grandmother and felt like someone was trying to take it over, someone who is never around and never has helped her before. I did feel a little better when someone commented to my mom that I was very good with my grandmother. I would do anything I could for her. I dont always jump to help when my grandpa is around because they two have a routine down and she likes him to help. I try not to step on any toes.
Any advice on how to deal with everything, any is appreciated. Thanks for letting me vent.