Nothing was the same.  Mom was not Mom any more but she was still Mom.  Okay, I am confused by that statement, how did my sister manage!

My sister has Downs Syndrome and struggled with losing her Mom. But even if it is scary and sad, if you persist a new normal is possible.  Every week one of the care team would bring Mom up to visit my sister or my sister would come down to Mom’s for a visit.  Many times Mom did not seem clear that this was her youngest daughter.  Sometimes my sister would bridle with frustration but over time I saw her also grow and care for Mom in this new situation. She became one of the team and was also a source of inspiration to the other team members.

It is not necessary to shelter family and friends from Alzheimer’s.  The disease is not contagious.

We can all grow and change and embrace the difficult and find laughter and hope on the other side.