Hello, dear friends and family! Dad asked me to write today's update about our trip to take Mom to visit her Mom.
We had a lovely drive down to Preston, MN. Mom continued to work on her crochet project in the car while we spent some time catching up—she's making incredible progress on it! She talked a bit about how she knew she had made progress, but she still gets frustrated by her aphasia and apraxia, that she still struggles to find the right words and express what's in her head. But we also reflected on the fact that even compared to a month ago, she's articulating her thoughts a lot more clearly.
Mom's younger brother Joel, his wife Cindy, and their grandkids had driven out from Oklahoma to visit Grandma this week, and they drove her up from northeast Iowa to meet us for lunch. Grandma and Mom were so happy to be able to see each other and spend time with each other. And as my Uncle Joel said, it did his heart good to see her as well. We had a lovely time of conversation (and some delicious food). Grandma said as we were saying our goodbyes that she'd been afraid she'd never see Mom again in this life, and I know Mom had also worried about that. It clearly meant the world to both of them, and it was a such privilege to be able to be part of such a special day.
On the way home Mom talked about how much she was trying to make sure everyone at the table felt included. We reassured her that she did a great job. It amazes me after all she's been through that my Mom remains incredibly compassionate and continues to be more concerned for others than she is for herself.
We hit quite the rainstorm on the way home, which was a bit overstimulating and hard on Mom's eyes and left her feeling a little lightheaded, but a brief rest seemed to help and she was feeling more herself by the time Mom and Dad dropped me back off in St. Paul.
Thank you all for your continued prayers, kind words, and support. Every time we tell Mom about all the people who have been following her journey and wishing her well, she is blown away, and so grateful, as are the rest of us.
