Submiited by the Alzheimer’s Association
My life changed when my mother, Diana Davis, was diagnosed with Dementia in 2008. My first thought was, “She is only 58 years old. How could this be?” Then I realized I am not ready for this. This is when my journey began.
At the time my mother lived on her own in our hometown of Opp, Alabama surrounded by many family and friends. Some family members called me one day to say “your mother has changed and I think you need to take her to her doctor. She has been repeating questions and is not familiar with certain areas.” I could not come to terms with it. This was not MY mother. But, over time I could see “something” was definitely wrong. I went with her to her next doctor appointment and said how mom has been repeating questions and her having issues with memory loss. He did a CAT scan but the results only showed a sinus infection. I was frustrated and not pleased with the diagnoses or the treatment when I KNEW her issues were greater than a sinus infection. One of my co-workers saw my frustration with the diagnosis, and told me about Dr. Marguerite Barber-Owens. Dr. Barber-Owens found my mother in good health but noticed “something” was wrong. She referred me to a local neurologist, Dr. Ben Wouters with Neurology Consultants of Montgomery, PC. He decided she needed to see a neuropsychologist and made an appointment with Dr. Thomas Boll.
In June of 2008 the diagnosis of Dementia early stages of Alzheimer’s was made. My thoughts then were, “NO, she is too young”. Dr. Boll agreed, but also said that some people get it even younger. Then I started to cry because I wasn’t ready for this kind of responsibility of taking care of my mom along with my two daughters, Kyndra and Derrika. And then my mother said, “Baby, it will be alright” and I cried more.
For two years I drove back and forth from Montgomery to Opp taking my mother to her doctor appointments while she lived alone, until one day when my brother called and said “I need for you to come and get momma. I cannot take care of her anymore.” I went to pick her up to stay permanently at my place. At the time my oldest daughter was a senior in high school and my youngest was in sixth grade.
I needed someone or a support group to help me cope with what I was currently facing, because I didn’t even know how to take care of my mom, but where was this help going to come from?
At this point my mother was at my house all day by herself. She stopped doing her word puzzles that she used to love doing, was not able to prepare her meals, and didn’t know how to pack or what kind of clothes to put and when I tried to help her she got upset and started to cry.
My stress level eased a bit but hoping one day that I will be able to have someone to come to sit with my mother for 8 hours or even go back to an adult daycare without the cost.
It was not until I was laid off from my job that I noticed a big change in my mother. I could no longer take care of her. I had to place her in a nursing home which was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. My mother lived there until her death on February 13, 2016. She died peacefully in her sleep. I know she is now in a better place with no more suffering. This is why I Walk for my mother Diana T. Davis at the Montgomery Walk to End Alzheimer’s, so that her memories will shine forever.
The Montgomery Walk to End Alzheimer’s is October 1st. Registration is at 8:30am, the Ceremony is at 9:30am, and the Walk is at 9:45am AUM – Moore Hall Montgomery, AL.
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