Maybe things happen for a reason……

My life has taken a total turn.  Rene always said “I don’t know where you come from cause you are so different to me.  You have no compassion or empathy.”  Well mom….maybe you would be pleased and proud to know I do have compassion and empathy after all.  What a pity that mom cannot see this for herself!

I gave up my job totally as it was impossible to concentrate on my work with mom calling for me the minute I left the house. Danie has been absolutely wonderful about this, putting himself in debt knowing that it is something I need to do.

I had been attending my Support Group for almost a year when the Leader of the Group phoned to tell me that she needed to step down and asked me if I would mind taking over the group from her.  I was delighted to do this!  This was the start to what I think was “my calling”.  I went to an Alzheimer’s SA workshop about the same time as I became the Leader of the Support Group and met Jill Robson the Regional Director Western Cape.  Since that day I have been working with Jill and help on her committee.  I do counselling whenever I can, be it on the phone or in someone’s home.  In September, which is Alzheimer’s Month I will be giving my first hour talk on mom.  This will be my test to see if I can actually do this without becoming too emotional!  I have done a couple of courses and in October I will be going to Johannesburg to do a Leadership Course.  I think meeting Jill was the best thing that could have happened to me as I want to do as much work as I can for Alzheimer’s and she seems to be more than willing that I help out.

Soon I will be visiting all the Old Age Homes to see how they all operate so that I can recommend them to people needing homes.

One of the ladies from the Support Group asked if Jill and I would give some training to the nurses of the home her mom is in which we did and I decided to adopt a couple of grannies that did not get visitors.  I started off adopting 4 and now have about 8 grannies and 4 grandpas that I visit weekly.  I am getting more and more involved with the children of the parents in that specific home.  One daughter heard about me in Port Elizabeth and phoned to ask if I could visit her blind mother.  She has become my favorite granny and I look forward to my weekly visits.  The old folk there are all so precious and I think I get more out of my visit than they get out of me visiting them.

I hope that my work for Alzheimer’s increases as this is what I love doing!  My life has never been more fulfilled!