Not for the Faint of Heart

Aging is not for the "faint of heart".  A week ago on Wednesday, when I got home from work, I checked my messages on my cell phone, there was a voicemail from my cousin Elaine, informing me that my mom had fallen down and then was pretty confused when the EMTs transported her to the American Fork Hospital.  I called mom and found out that she had a UTI (urinary tract infection).  The infection had gone systemic, probably causing the mental confusion.  She spent five days in the hospital, I visited with her on the Friday she was in the hospital.  I was able to go visit Mom and Aunt Thelys on Monday 1/20 Martin Luther King day, since I had the day off school and was glad to see that she was doing well.

My mom will be 90 years old on March 31st.  I have watched the past 12 years (since my Dad died), as my mom has battled loneliness, injury, and declining health.  Many of the medical conditions she has faced were life threatening, but she has recovered and faced adversity with grace, courage and good cheer.  She sold her home of  30+ years, and now lives with my Aunt Thelys (6 years her junior).  I am happy she is there and that she is not alone, but I know she misses her independence, and the connections she had with her friends.  She has made friends with some widows who live in the ward that she is in now.  She goes to the temple once a week, but usually does two sessions.  She has dinner and watches movies twice a week with her friends.  She reads, does puzzles and is active in the church.  She got an iPad and I have been able to help her to learn how to use it.   I am so grateful for every day she has the courage to go on, and live a full life, she is still learning, creating and setting and reaching goals.  I hope that I can follow her example, she is an amazing woman and I am glad that I am her daughter.