Recent content by AnaMaria

One day at a time is correct. The community on this forum had been nothing short of extraordinary comfort. I return to Toronto this Saturday, to settle a divorce (not my idea - husband cheated, with another now). I am actually thinking of relocating, buying a home here in Seattle in order to...

My religious father wanted Mom home. I told him a year ago if she is at home, the house will start to resemble a hospital. Today, a man delivered oxygen for Mom, she is getting a AVAPS machine soon too. Dad looked at me and said "I hope you know what you are doing". He refuses to go to the Dr...

This is so so difficult. I just spent the last hour crying. My Mom has ALS. Seems like since I came here to help, family members have slowed right down to help. She needs to be turned more often: At least they can do that when they visit. Support is so important. I am asking for more help from...

Some great wisdom has been offered. "No victims": I must take that to heart. Some of my friends have nothing to do with me anymore, the very few ones left are wonderful, yes I am blessed. Thank you Milan, you are family.

Hi! My mom has ALS. I know how hard this is. Well meaning people ask "how is your mom doing?" and say "I hope your mom is better". They do not know. My only comfort is mom is starting to accept this fate and is not angry and screaming and lashing out all the time anymore. She can still talk and...

Thanks for writing to me: Barbie, Paulette, and Kim I am better and taking antidepressants. For the first month I was a wreck, cried for hours, did not eat. It still hurts, so does watching my mother suffer with ALS. Sometimes I do not know which emotion is surfacing. I have my 2 brothers here...

Its been a long time since been here. Guess you can say I have been preoccupied. Last January in 2013 my mother asked I help her - Mom has ALS. She said my father (who never cooked or cleaned before) could not help much, and he is in his 80's. So, with my husbands blessing, I traveled from...

Been here for a full 3 months. Thought there would be more quiet time to spend with Mom. I find myself being the sibling dealing with Dr. and Medicare appointment/visits. Calling about resources, shopping, cleaning, cooking, bathing Mom, dealing with the ALS association - which have been so good...

Dear Judy, Thank you for writing back. How did you administer the morphine to your mom please? Mom will not get a feeding tube.

Hi Judy Please let me know if your mom suffered without a ventilator. My Mom does not want a feeding tube, nor a ventilator. She is quickly "declining", loosing more weight. Hoping for the best. Praying for it.

I just typed a lengthy reply, but got disconnected... I know how you feel - my mother has ALS and I took a leave of absence to be with her. I need to go back to eastern Canada next month (in Seattle now for over 2 months). I will come back again - this is my reality. Though my 80 year old father...

"some days it just hurts so much it's hard to breathe" I understand. I just came back from an ALS support group. I met some very brave people. There were those who lost loved ones there too. Mom doesn't want feeding tubes in the near future but she and dad are not ready and willing to view the...

Today is a good day. Got mom into the bath and to our delight, everything went ok. Our ALS care service coordinator, Caryn, brought us a new swivel seat and some other "goodies". Caryn is simply wonderful. It is hopeful now that my parents will welcome another helper to enter the home. Well back...

I live not far from you, but in Seattle now. Maybe we can meet when I return. It is so very hard: my mother requires so much help, physically and emotionally. You can give and give, but do recharge. I saw my girlfriends from high school last weekend (I am 50), and came back a new person. Its ok...

I am caring for my mom now. I hope she passes peacefully when her time comes. She is scared, so am I. These posts are helpful. Know you have given me a vision of how I should be with my own mother now. Time heals - I lost my sister years ago but her smile stays in my heart. God bless.