Blog 68: A Special Thank You

My blog has given me an outlet for my pain and despair.  It’s allowed me to openly express my feelings, to vent, to reflect, to remember, to share, to hope, and to help others on this journey.   I've helped myself, too.  Just the simple fact that the thought processes that go into writing a post, have enabled me to sort through my feelings and dump it out of my head, so to speak.  It’s therapeutic.

There’s no doubt that this ugly disease has changed my family.  We are no longer the same.  Seeing our mom suffer like this has been the greatest suffering my sisters and I have endured.  The residual affect is the way we have chosen to press forward.   We are separated.  It’s not the right way, but it is the way we are doing it, for now.  

I pray that my sisters are finding comfort for their pain and despair, too.  It hurts me to know that I can't be there for them.

There are so many people to thank for being there for me, for supporting me, encouraging me, and loving me along the way.  Without them I wouldn’t be able to go on.  My biggest thanks goes to my children and grandchildren, who have been my saving grace.  They are my reason for being able to live happily, in spite of everything, and that happy place is safe in my heart.  I have a wonderful future with them no matter what.

I would like to thank those few special people I have elected to share my blog with.  At first I didn’t want to share it with my friends because I write with such raw emotions and I didn’t want it to affect how I write, knowing they are reading.  But I have come to realize that I really needed to have some support from those who know and care about me.  There’s nothing for me to be ashamed of or try to hide.  

To those people, thank you for reading, and for your words of encouragement and advice. I’m sorry I’ve made you cry, but I know you only do that because you care about my family and me.   I appreciate you for standing by me, and for your love of my family, and for your prayers for better days.

Thank you to my faithful blog followers, the people who don’t know me personally, but who share a common interest and want to know how our story unfolds.  Your encouraging words, emails, comments, and stories you share with me, only reinforces my reasons for doing this blog.  You have touched me in ways I never thought possible, and you have no idea how much I appreciate you.  We are like family because we are in this together. 

Also, I have a special thanks to the Remember for Alzheimer’s community for highlighting my blog on their Facebook page.  That simple act did wonders for me, and made my blog visible to others who would have no way of knowing about it otherwise.  I received over 3,300 views in one day!  Now I have more people following my blog, and people who have reached out to me to share their stories with me.  That’s what every blogger wants.  So, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Recently I was contacted by a reporter, who came across my blog while doing research on Alzheimer’s, and asked for my participation in an article for publication.   I was happy to help out in any way I could. 

My blog matters to people.  So many people are affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia in one way or another.   I will continue on, and hope that my efforts to share our journey will help others and also bring me comfort along the way.   We all want love, answers, encouragement, advice, help and understanding, when it comes to living a life with Alzheimer’s.  Thank you all for what you’ve given me.  I only hope that I can return the favor.  

Please stay tuned to my next blog post, that I promise will be heartfelt.  Until then, may God bless each and every one of you!