06/24/2026
I’m sitting on the deck of the café at my mom’s dementia care facility. We’re sharing popcorn and a grape Crush while taking in the beautiful view. Nearby, there’s a daycare where the sounds of laughing toddlers fill the air as they play outside. It’s one of those rare, peaceful moments that feels almost sacred.
Sometimes it’s the little moments that matter most.
Mom has been under the weather with a chest cold, and we’re waiting to find out whether it’s pneumonia. Lately, she’s been sleeping through most of the day. I learned that over the last few mornings she’s been waking up around 7:00 a.m. and having a bit of energy, so today I pulled myself out of my cozy bed and met her for breakfast. Now we’re sitting together in the sunshine, enjoying the warmth, the view, and each other’s company.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to meet an Alzheimer’s patient where they are. The woman sitting beside me is no longer quite the mother who raised me, but she is still my mom.
So I will meet her where she is, day after day. I will sit with her, laugh with her, hold her hand, and make sure she feels my love long after she forgets my name. Because even when memories fade, love remains.
