This is Mom, not quite a month before she passed away.

 As hard as this is to watch, I felt I needed to document this. I stopped taking video as she started to transition, so this is one of the last ones... 

Janet Trezza ,October 5, 2015

My mother passed away after an approximately 13 year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.  From July , 2015 on, she had recurrent UTIs and then developed a recurrent c diff infection, which took her downhill gradually and then suddenly.




http://danjolell.tributes.com/obituary/show/Janet-Morello-Trezza-102915032

The photos were taken at St. Mary's Manor, where Mom went for a bit of rehab, for 3 weeks.
She had had a severe UTI, among other things.

I drove her back to the assisted living facility, and these photos are of that day. We were waiting outside of the Manor, for an aid to help get her into the car.  I had a spare pair of sunglasses, Hello Kitty, in my car. Mom is wearing them, as she rarely went outside and the summer sun was high!

back at Sunrise, after 3 weeks away!

Just 3 days after returning to Sunrise,  Mom developed a C Diff infection, not once but 3 times. This is what caused her downward spiral. By late September, she was in Hospice care.  

August 24, 2014 mom singing edelweis

Mom's rendition of Edelweis

Amazing the way one's brain works. She still has the grasp of language, its just like a milkshake version. Mom

probably thinks she is singing the right words or words that make sense to her.



She used to sing this song, and loved all the songs from The Sound of Music movie.  It was a particular favorite, and she used to sing some of the songs and dance in the living room.  Mom had a beautiful singing voice and she loved Julie Andrews.. Perhaps that is why this melody is ingrained in her memory.

Janet’s new hobby, repetitive napkin folding

 

Always thorough and precise, Mom smooths and folds the napkins after dinner. It is her important work now. She is always smiling, this woman with advanced degrees in education. She does not recall her professional career and accomplishments at all at this point.  I would say we are 12 years into this disease, since official diagnosis.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2002



Ziggy 
Stardust, aka David Bowie was obviously not referring to Alzheimer's disease with the lyrics to his 1970's hit song.  However, as I look at my Mom now and look at photos of her from the year  2000 to the present,                                              
the title of Bowie's song echoes in my mind.

I am going to start posting photos from each year since we officially found out that my Mom had Alzheimer's disease. We first started seeing some of the  basic symptoms in 2000, but it was easy to explain those away.  In 2001, I believe we received the diagnosis. My Dad was able to care for Mom at home until early 2011 (with the help of daily caregivers). In January, 2011, my brother and I convinced Dad that we had to move Mom to an assisted living facility that could better meet her needs. The second half of that decision was to preserve and protect my Dad, who was jumping through hoops to keep everything perfect.  

He is doing well now, although he still feels guilty, thankfully not as much as the first 6 months or so after we made the change. And Mom is happy. She never mentioned or questioned why we were taking her there, and has not been one who sings a constant  chorus of  'I want to go home'.  We are very fortunate that this is the case, as it is not the normal reaction of residents in Alzheimer's facilities.

2003

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
So the days float through my eyes
But stil the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Time may change me
But you can't trace time
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Ah changes are taking the pace Im going through


Ch-ch-changes
Oh, look out you rock n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

(David Bowie Changes Lyrics
Songwriters: DEL BARRIO,
 SEEMAN, JONES,  KAPLAN









2004

2012

2012

2004

I think Janet resembles Princess Diana in the angle of this photo. Something about the nose and jaw line ... People used to comment that there was a resemblance.

Enough blah blah,  here are some then and now photos...