She's been a volunteer at the assisted living for at least the 5 years that I've been there. First, teaching Sunday School once a month. Then for the past 2 years, playing the piano for sing along each week. One day, the leader of the Sunday School group comes to me. He asks me to keep an eye on this teacher. She seems to have been having trouble with her memory lately and they are concerned about her. This past week, I half listen to the Sunday School lesson as I work in the office on the computer. She says to the residents, "I'm going to be forgetting things so I have started writing things down". What? I listen more closely. "They tell me as the disease progresses, I will forget things. I could ask God why me, but I'm not going to do that. None of us knows what tomorrow may bring. I will keep on what I can for as long as I can for the Lord." All this is said with the same smile on her face as when she shows us her latest photo or art project.
I don't know that I could do what she is doing. I don't know how I am going to handle my mother's illness, much less what I would do if told I had dementia. This is the face of true courage. Moving forward in spite of circumstances, vowing to do your best for as long as you can. This is a true hero and I vow to recognize these heroes when I have the chance. Because none of us knows what tomorrow may bring.
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