Miss Marylee A Whole Life To Remember

At the time this event took place, I was a caregiver, I would go into peoples homes,and help them with their every day needs. My first client was Miss Marylee, she had Alzheimer's. I will never forget my first visit. I have never worked with Alzheimer's patients before,so I took a deep breath and with Gods help I went forward. I went up to the door and rang the bell, she came to the door asking who are you? I introduced my self and that I was there to help her. She said, "Oh no you're not, you have to leave"; so I asked where are you going? Miss Mary said, "I am going home" , so you have to leave. I then asked her if I could use her phone to let my employer know that I wouldn't be working with her today. You can come in and use the phone,but then you have to go. I agreed and went inside the house, the first thing I did walking into her house was I commented on her home, and how beautiful it was. Miss Mary was happy that I liked it,and started telling me all about her home.She then showed me where the phone was, as I was pretending to use the phone, I took a good look around and saw she had all her refrigerator things out on the counter. She was loading up the car which she could no longer drive. I decided to take things into my own hands and started to cook her some breakfast, she then said, "what are you doing"? well I thought you might like some thing to eat she then commented, "oh my, that smells good" and started setting the table. A new friendship had been born.

After that she would greet me the same way every morning, and of course I would do the same thing everyday. Then one day to my surprise she opened the door and said, "come on in my friend "! I don't know your name, but I know that you are my friend. This was great, after that every time she saw my face she lit up. I couldn't be more pleased.I did a lot of reading about Alzheimer's, and found different ways to help her. It's sad losing all your memories, for example, one day her husband walked in and I said, "your husband is here" she said, "I have never been married, I am only in my twenties". I found this very sad. Another time she looked over at me saying, "what happened to me", I look all wrinkled. Miss Marylee was 74 years old at that time. She said, "I am only twenty I don't know why I look this way". I then redirected her saying, "hey let's go out to eat". Miss Mary loved to go out for lunch, and to go grocery shopping. I even got her to go with me to the movies. One day we where at the grocery store, and she had a moment where she didn't realize that her husband was paying for her food. He had giving me his credit card to pay for her food. I had just finished putting all the food on the converter belt when she then said and very loudly I may add, " I am not paying for this crap"!! and proceed to push all the food off the belt. Oh my goodness was I so surprised, it took me 10 mins to talk her into getting her food. Meanwhile everybody kept on looking at us, and I am sure they were wondering what is going on.

After that we still went to the movies and went out to eat, but I did all her grocery shopping.

I also had to talk her into getting her hair done once a week. That was a struggle within it self, we never went back for a perm again, that was a bad situation as you know a perm takes a couple of hours to get done. I knew it might be a problem, but her husband wanted her a to have one, needless to say it was an ordeal. When we got there everything was fine, but after an hour she started to get upset, I kept reassuring her it was almost over. She then stood up with rollers in her hair, and, "get me the hell out of here". I told her, "please lets wash the chemical out of your hair first" she wasn't happy about it,but agreed. After she was done, I told her how much I liked her hair. Walking out of the salon she said, "I love my hair, I am so glad we got it done. These were struggles, but I would do them all over again, because I made a wonderful friend.

I was with Miss Marylee for about a year and a half. Eventually she had to go to an assisted living facility, but I still see her every chance I get. She sees me coming through the door,and say's. "I don't your name but I do know you are my friend, lets eat". Miss Marylee used to be such an intelligent person and used to run her husband's fiances for a multi million dollar business. It's unbelievable how a disease can rob someone form their mind and memories. It has blessed my life to have met her.

A whole life time of memories. That could be gone in a heart beat.

We hold on to our love and memories. Its just a tragedy to think you could lose it all some day. That is so scary.