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The Celebration Of Life for A Christian Woman
The old woman was near death. I could hear her try to draw in painful gasps of breath. I felt helpless as a caregiver and friend in this remote part of the world. Was there nothing I could do?
No, in short, there was nothing that I could personally do to save this poor, frail 86 year old woman.
Needless to say, she had been slowly losing her mind, regressing back to infantry, she had a known, common condition called, Dementia. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten better and the dementia slowly advancing to Alzheimer's.
In the summer of 2011, I had just graduated High School, planning successful goals for myself, I had began studying for my freshman year in college. I was (within the time) going through an abusive, controlled parental home in which had lead me to move out with my -at the time- high school sweetheart, Curt. We had known each other since middle school and Curt was known for having a crush on me at least every other year. Curt wasn't the most attractive man out there, but he wasn't the ugliest either. I had felt guilty since I turned him down constantly, ignoring his every beck and call he made about me.
Upon junior year, we were actively dating, against my parents wishes.
Once I had moved out at 18, I took care of my current, at the time, boyfriends great grandmother whom had dementia. I was, then, considered a senior care provider for my boyfriends great-grandmother.
She had confided in me, talking with me daily, mainly about her husband who had died not too long ago. She was a widow now and she was lonely. Her name was Barbara, she was frail to the look and had white, silver hair that was mid length. Barbara had often talked about her figure, saying her husband liked her thin so that was how she was planning to stay.
Barbara was a retired model that wasn't meant to be argued with, she was full of hot air.
Needless to say, Barbara was quite stubborn. She never took no for an answer. If she were to ask a favor and I were to be busy, for example, Barbara wouldn't waste time and get it done herself!
However, unfortunately, Barbara's memory started to get worse.
Barbara had started putting trash inside the garbage disposals, throwing temper tantrums, and taking off on walks to the bowling alley or church by herself when she was instructed to only leave if someone was taking her by automobile.
Curt and I had gotten engaged around the fall of 2012.
I had just finished my first year of college and had planned to get married by June! I had a conversation with Curt on moving, however, he knew we couldn't take his great grandma, Barbara, with us. This was sad, as I had grown close to Barbara through out the year of living with her and she had also became close with me in turn.
Only after a few conversations, we both agreed to start our lives. Curt and I had moved out, gotten our first apartment and Barbara had to be placed into a home. Visiting her constantly, twice a week, every other day in thebeginning, we had visited Barbara on a consistent basis.
Each time we visited Barbara, she had seemed to get gradually worse and worse. I had began to regret our decision on placing Curts great-grandma in a home as I felt they weren't taking care of her as well as we did.
Barbara had only lasted 3 months the most inside the home. Her dementia gradually gotten worse which had eventually resulted in Alzheimer's.
Taking her last breath, I watched as Barbara's life slowly faded away from her. That was the saddest, most heartbreaking thing I would ever have to go through.
To this day I will forever remember that cheerful, religious woman who was still so full of life. When she had introduced herself she would normally say she is"bright eyed and bushy tailed". Barbara had lastly gone on to say famous words that will forever stick with me. That is, "I want to do my duty for the day and make at least one person smile, if I make one person smile, I'll know I did right." Barbara was a loyal and avid Christian lady who will forever be missed.
May you rest in peace forever, Barbara. Until we meet again in heaven.
© Juli Reimer
No, in short, there was nothing that I could personally do to save this poor, frail 86 year old woman.
Needless to say, she had been slowly losing her mind, regressing back to infantry, she had a known, common condition called, Dementia. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten better and the dementia slowly advancing to Alzheimer's.
In the summer of 2011, I had just graduated High School, planning successful goals for myself, I had began studying for my freshman year in college. I was (within the time) going through an abusive, controlled parental home in which had lead me to move out with my -at the time- high school sweetheart, Curt. We had known each other since middle school and Curt was known for having a crush on me at least every other year. Curt wasn't the most attractive man out there, but he wasn't the ugliest either. I had felt guilty since I turned him down constantly, ignoring his every beck and call he made about me.
Upon junior year, we were actively dating, against my parents wishes.
Once I had moved out at 18, I took care of my current, at the time, boyfriends great grandmother whom had dementia. I was, then, considered a senior care provider for my boyfriends great-grandmother.
She had confided in me, talking with me daily, mainly about her husband who had died not too long ago. She was a widow now and she was lonely. Her name was Barbara, she was frail to the look and had white, silver hair that was mid length. Barbara had often talked about her figure, saying her husband liked her thin so that was how she was planning to stay.
Barbara was a retired model that wasn't meant to be argued with, she was full of hot air.
Needless to say, Barbara was quite stubborn. She never took no for an answer. If she were to ask a favor and I were to be busy, for example, Barbara wouldn't waste time and get it done herself!
However, unfortunately, Barbara's memory started to get worse.
Barbara had started putting trash inside the garbage disposals, throwing temper tantrums, and taking off on walks to the bowling alley or church by herself when she was instructed to only leave if someone was taking her by automobile.
Curt and I had gotten engaged around the fall of 2012.
I had just finished my first year of college and had planned to get married by June! I had a conversation with Curt on moving, however, he knew we couldn't take his great grandma, Barbara, with us. This was sad, as I had grown close to Barbara through out the year of living with her and she had also became close with me in turn.
Only after a few conversations, we both agreed to start our lives. Curt and I had moved out, gotten our first apartment and Barbara had to be placed into a home. Visiting her constantly, twice a week, every other day in thebeginning, we had visited Barbara on a consistent basis.
Each time we visited Barbara, she had seemed to get gradually worse and worse. I had began to regret our decision on placing Curts great-grandma in a home as I felt they weren't taking care of her as well as we did.
Barbara had only lasted 3 months the most inside the home. Her dementia gradually gotten worse which had eventually resulted in Alzheimer's.
Taking her last breath, I watched as Barbara's life slowly faded away from her. That was the saddest, most heartbreaking thing I would ever have to go through.
To this day I will forever remember that cheerful, religious woman who was still so full of life. When she had introduced herself she would normally say she is"bright eyed and bushy tailed". Barbara had lastly gone on to say famous words that will forever stick with me. That is, "I want to do my duty for the day and make at least one person smile, if I make one person smile, I'll know I did right." Barbara was a loyal and avid Christian lady who will forever be missed.
May you rest in peace forever, Barbara. Until we meet again in heaven.
© Juli Reimer
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