Tricia Jenkins

Is subscribed to :Marcheur / Participant

It isn’t a secret how much I loved my mom. We did a lot together: trips, shopping, laughs….a lifetime of memories that suddenly disappeared.
I called my mom 20 times a day. Just to tell her everything and nothing and she always had the time to talk. She was my person.

January 2019, after many suspicions, my mom was diagnosed at the young age of 69 with early stages of Alzheimer’s. At that moment, I knew my life was going to change dramatically. There was no going back. I became a caregiver. I would start taking her to do groceries as she could no longer drive.

April 7, 2019, my mom was hospitalized due to an episode where her safety was questioned. That day was a very hard and sad day, a day where all freedom was taken from her.

For 4 years and 11 months, I learned everything about caregiving: from visits, stages of Alzheimer’s, residents, nurses, orderlies, administration, social workers…add Covid to the mix- where I could only visit my mom through a window, writing her messages of love on the sidewalk. She declined greatly during this time.

March 8th, 2024 proved to be the hardest day of my life. But im so grateful that I got to hold her hand, give her many kisses and talk to her even if she was not conscious. I played music, I thanked her for everything and I told her I love you, je t’aime. She left this planet with me holding her hand.

Although I am extremely sad right now, I hope to make a difference someday, in her name. I want to help other families who are going through the same thing I did. I want to make this disease disappear. So for my 5th year in a row, I will be walking in honor and memory of my mother, Louise Leclair. She is missed but never forgotten. Thank you for your donation. I love you, je t’aime.