Alzheimer’s Wasn’t In The Manual: Caring for the nurse who raised me.

I am the crazy guy

I was walking my mom to the bathroom. I reminded her to knock on the wall so she would know where to sit down. She waved me off and said "yeah, yeah, some crazy guy already taught me that." In this episode I share another moment from our daily life navigating the strange world of Alzheimer's...One that made me laugh out loud, even during just another caregiving task. These are the moments that remind me how the days can be funny, sad, and confusing all at once Join me as I tell the story behind "The crazy guy" and reflect on the unexpected gifts hidden inside this very challenging journey

"Who would name their daughter that?"

My mom looked at my sister and became confused when she realized her sister and her daughter had the same first name. "Who would be crazy enough to name their daughter the same name as their sister? "she asked. I told her "You'd be surprised" Alzheimer's can really mess with time, relationships, and memories very quickly.Sometimes all you can do is laugh.

"She asked me if I'm British

My mom asked if I was British this morning while I was helping her get dressed. That's how this episode starts. A short story about humor, confusion, caregiving, and the crazy everyday moments that Alzheimer's brings.

Hair Washing Day

Hair washing day sounds simple until it becomes part comedy routine, part emotional Time Machine, and part caregiving reality. In episode 3, I discuss one small moment with my mom that turns into one of the funniest and sweetest compliments I've gotten in a long time. Caregiving can be exhausting, heartbreaking, awkward, and absolutely hilarious. sometimes all within minutes.

Its a secret

"It"s a secret" That's how I answered my mom when she asked me who washes and gets me dressed. Just minutes earlier, she had asked me if I ever get tired of helping her. I told her never. Then she looked at me and asked who takes care of me. In moments like that, you don't always have an answer....so sometimes you make one up. This is life caring for my mom, a nurse of 57 years, now living with Alzheimer's. Some moments are heavy. Some moments unexpectedly funny. This wasn't in the manual.