My Hero

For as far back as I can remember, she has always been that mom that had the perfect pair of stilettos to go with each outfit in her wardrobe. When she was diagnosed with ALS two years ago, one of the first things we did together was to go shopping for cute shoes that weren’t high heels. It was honestly the first of MANY heartbreaking moments we shared coming to terms with the fact that her life may never be the same.

I cherish each moment I get to share with her. Three months after she was diagnosed, my husband and I relocated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Louisville, Kentucky to spend every moment we can with her, my father, and my brother. We knew my family would need all the assistance they could get as her way of life began getting harder with each new day.

My mother has lost her voice and much of her mobility in the months since her diagnosis. However, her fight and positive attitude has truly redefined my definition of the word “HERO.” She just recently received her Tobi Dynavox Eye Gaze System and is becoming more confident communicating with it daily. Fall is in full force here in Kentucky and she is enjoying the new electric wheelchair and the ramps made so she can easily access the beautiful new covered patio I had built for her last spring.

My dad has been a devoted caregiver since she was diagnosed. In addition to family support, he will start getting some help a few days a week from professional home healthcare workers next week. He will add on more days if he finds he needs them.
Here’s to many more birthdays with the woman that has always been my family’s caregiver and is now our inspiration too. She is an incredible mother, best friend, and my biggest fan.