Visiting mom at the nursing home was the best time I could have spent and I wish I had more time to spend with her. 

During her final weeks mom was sometimes in and out of being able to respond.

At first they had her on so many different medications that we were unable to communicate with her much.

Working with the brothers and staff we were able to get her off a lot of the heavier medicines so that her cognitive state improved. 

Food was a big issue for mom. She was having trouble with the blended food diet that they had her on. I was trying to feed her but it was always a struggle. One day I brought a breakfast burrito with me that I was eating alongside mom. Without saying anything moms mouth opened and went toward my burrito. I immediately tried to give her small bits of it and to my suprise she gobbled it all up. We petitioned the medical staff to change her diet to more solid foods and mom had a better time eating the more solid foods. 

Sadly this did not result in signifant weight gain and she struggled to maintain her weight. 

We had good times together. I snuck her out to go to church a couple times and she was happy with that. We attended the parties that they had at the nursing home. One time I snuck her a blueberry snowcone and the blue evidence was all over her mouth that she had eaten it. We joked to the nurses and doctors about that. Mom laughed. 

One day I was able to give mom a little bit of coca cola which she called "the good stuff". Her roommate and me and mom had a good laugh about that. 

Mom was very interested to continue to watch Survivor and the World Cup which were always her favorite shows to watch. We tried our best to do this but sometimes her cognitive state would not allow it. 

Mom attended when singers and pastors came to the nursing home for singing and worship. We also did our own private worship where she listened to Billy Graham who is her favorite Christian pastor. 

Mom was interested to give me advice and insight about my life and the way I was living it. 

In particular, she had a lot of feeling for my son Jacob. She said "that boy is very special and precious". I was able to reunite with my son Jacob after this and be a father again.  

I remember she hit me hard one time about my life saying "Andrew, you just dont get it". Those words made a profound impact on my life and direction. Coming down with an illness of my own I have refocused my life in a better direction. 

I now care for my two daughters Amoriezia and Cassie and my son Jacob.