Hey, @galenkp.

I've got a few thoughts, but nothing of true substance or meaning I think. It's tough to put any of that into words really. I guess, I'd rather just be empathetic. My mom, as I believe you know, was having some of those same issues you describe mentally. Hers didn't last as long, and I wasn't really fully aware of it until about four months before her death, so the period of time I experienced isn't the same.

But, I echo very much the same sentiments. It would have been nice to have my Mom "back" for at least a few moments, rather than the lost-in-time, often befuddled version that I saw.

My consolation is, she didn't seem to be in much pain, and maybe not being able to reason or think as clearly (at least on the outside), was a blessing to her, since she was quite capable of worrying, and the last thing I think she needed was the added stress of wondering (without being able to do anything about it) what was going to become of my Dad.

And that's another difference in my case. My Dad now has to face the remainder of his days without his wife. He's not likely to remarry at his age (or even go looking), which I'm okay with. It just means that my sisters and I need to be paying a little more attention to him than what we've been used to doing up until now because he and mom had each other and as fully functional adults, they didn't need to be "looked in on" beyond the normal (whatever that might be) day to day checking family should and want to do.

Thanks for sharing. Even these types of situations are what give life purpose and meaning. It takes the not so good to truly appreciate the good that is in our lives, and the better one unfolding before us that we can help and hope to create for ourselves and those around us.