Mahalo
First of all, I want to thank the elders and the church for the wonderful gift of a trip to Hawaii. In July/August Doug and I went to Hawaii for three weeks. We went to the big island, the island that I call home, as well as a trip to Maui. I enjoy swimming and being in the blue water always brings a smile to my face. Because it is the summer, the waves weren’t that great for boogie boarding but it was still great to be swimming in the ocean!
We also had a wonderful reunion in Hawaii with my sisters who traveled from Louisiana and Denver. To be with my family was a real highlight but along with that was the reality that things are not the same. My sister Carole, who is five years older than me, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year and was not able to join us as a group, although we did have the chance to visit her privately. Her condition has regressed. It was sad and very difficult to see someone you love not able to function because of her brain. Carole is someone who loves to cook and serve people. She is not able to cook on her own and is limited in what she can do. Her three children are doing a great job of taking care of her as she attends an adult day care program five days a week. It is a very unique program where she helps with a preschool program and has other activities during the day. My nieces and nephews are facing many challenges and I ask for your prayers for my sister and for her family.
In my last blog I wrote about having to go with plan B when plan A is not possible. It was plan B to visit with my sister privately but the Lord blessed our time together as we talked about the past and our times of growing up. She was so pleased to be with us! I am also very grateful for the support group that meets here at GPBC the third Tuesday of every month. Anyone dealing with someone with dementia, which is the overall condition of people with brain limitations and diseases, is welcomed to attend. Joyce Kemmerer and Myrna Hill co-lead the group and it has been so helpful. Being a part of this small group has helped me understand better what Alzheimer’s is and how to cope with the situation. If you are dealing with the same situation with someone you love, you may consider ordering the book “Help Is Here” at www.dementiahelpishere.org or contacting Joyce Kemmerer or Myrna Hill. This wonderful book is used as our curriculum.