I never knew there would be a time in my life where I went to bed every single night praying that my mother would just die.
For three years, my mother's body was ravaged by ALS. For two of those three years, she lived with me and my family. Being a caregiver to someone you love is
not
for the faint of heart. The turbulence of emotion, frustration, and exhaustion are all enough to leave you regretting your choice to take care of them.
A caregiver is often told they are special and wonderful for taking care of an ailing loved one and that's not a lie-they are. But there is an underside to caregiving, one that is dark, twisted, and full of heartache and failure. It's the side most caregivers won't admit to anyone-including themselves.
This is my journey.
Our
journey.
I documented our ups, downs, twists, and turns in the hope that those who find themselves walking in my shoes might also find solace in my words. Remember that your loved one isn't the only person on a journey-it's
YOUR
journey too. It's the reality. It's the truth.
It's good, it's bad, and sometimes, it's
really
ugly.