Mommy's Monsters
I will forever remember Alzheimer's as being a terrible monster that haunted my mother's days and nights.
It turned a once brave woman into a frightened and cowering child!
Her "night terrors" were her worst, because that is when the "fiends and monsters" especially loved to come out and "play".
Her cries for help could often be heard in the middle of the night. She begged her aides to climb into bed with her so she would not be alone.
No matter how hard they tried to offer her comfort they just could not make the "monsters" go away.
The look of ABSOLUTE TERROR in those beautiful, loving eyes of hers will forever be etched in my mind!
Silent pleas for help were often made as her hand gripped onto mine so tightly that I thought she would break my bones!
The "monsters" not only came out at night, you see...they were also active in the day time.
Often I would be sitting with her in the nursing home and she would suddenly scream,
"Get out of here! Go away! Leave me alone!" I would ask her, "Mom who are you talking to?
What are you afraid of?" "Monsters," she would softly reply.
I would try to calm her down and tell her that everything was ok and that there were no monsters.
However, her answer always remained the same...."Shh...be quiet....YES THERE ARE!"
You were so right, mommy....YES THERE ARE....