A blow to ones life......great news from the start of.....

[b_mason]

Today I learned that my mother was diagnosed with alzheimers and dimentia while I was listening to other peoples problems with their fucking cars. I now have to sit there and watch my mother loose her mind. She will not see my kids grow old nor see her great grandchildren. If she does she won't know who they are. I don't think I'm handling very well right now. I'm not looking for an outpooring of sympathy, Just wanted to get this off my chest. Thank you for understanding.

On the starting note, My son is in the third grade. His teacher asked them to do a report on anything they wanted. He chose to do his on the history of Triumph motorcycles. Every kid in his class asked him what a Triumph is. It made my heart thaw when he told me about it. Glad to see that tomorrows youth is falling in love with the Triumph history, the motorcycle and what it means to love the sound of a triple. (sorry to the twin lovers)
I will still be there just maybe a little more somber.

[Boondox]

I feel for you, Brett. It's a very tough journey. My mother was placed on thyroid medication by her HMO years ago. Every year her meds were reviewed and rubber stamped by the doctors. After ten years, when she started having trouble with her memory, the HMO review board suddenly discovered she had been taking 10x the appropriate dosage for her weight! Of course by then it was too late, and the chemically-induced dementia was irreversible.

My mother is now in a vegetative state and has been for years. But as hard as it was, we spent her remaining lucid time telling her stories, and sometimes the stories prompted something in her that made her recall and share some event we had never known about. Those were her last gifts to my daughters and me, and they'll last a lifetime!

Find the strength, bro. Those gifts go both ways.

With warmest regards, Pete

[bonnevillebilly]

Brett
that is a tough deal.
But, that is one smart kid.
and what do you mean the sound of a triple??
nothing sounds better then a twin.

Hang in there bro.

Bill

[b_mason]

Pete, thank you for giving some light to the end of the tunnel. It kills me to know that she will beaware of the loss all the way until the end, powerless to do anything about it. I will take your idea and run with it. Fight to keep the memories with stories, pictures, notes of what or who a person is or was. This is going to be a long hard fight. She never left me when I lost my kidney as a kid, She showed how to live with a health issue as if it is not issue. I hope I can do the same for her.

[b_mason]

Bill, My first twin I ever hearf was a Harley. The first triple was my Sprint.

Harley=1981

Sprint=2005 and have never looked back

thanks for the support Bill

[hankspeed3]

Bret,
I am so sorry to hear about that. I lost my mom in an accident in 1999 and I feel like I never said what I wanted to say. Thats the tragedy of an accident, and the definition of one. I mean had I known she was going to die, I would have spent way more time with her. No offense to people who lost a loved one to cancer or a slower form of death it still very painfull, i know, but at least you got to say good bye. I didn't even get to do that. So.... listen to me when I tell you. Your mom, she's not gone yet. I mean she still has some of her memory doesn't she? So please, please spend as much time as you can with her now. Life is too short. Don't worry about work or motorcycling. Those things will always be there. Spend time with your mom. From my perspective, I would give any and all of my possessions (including my Speet Triple) back in a heart beat just to see mother alive for just one day. Don't take this time for granted. Especially if the docs are saying the time is fast approaching. We'll all be here. RAT, MeMe, your friends, your work. Don't worry about missing anything...Just do it. Do as much as you can now! Sorry for the tough love. But its still a very very sore spot for me too and its been almost 9 years. I would not want anyone to go through what I went through, especailly if there is still a little time left on the clock.

We still want you to go to the bash, but believe me when I say we will all understand. Hopefully I will see you this sunday at the MeMe bbq at Grittys. If you want someone to talk to.

[ATriumphGoddess]

Brett,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Mom.
I've helped care for my Mom (80 years old) through 2 hip replacement surgeries and now also I help my Mom care for my aunt (76 years old) who has degenerative cardiac disease, pulmonary disease and chronic depression. Caring for our aging parents is no easy task- very complicated emotionally.

Take a deep breath.....now take another one.....Once you'e got your bearings a bit, get as much support and education as you can about Alzheimers. Getting help & support to care for your Mom will give you the knowledge and strength to feel a little more in control of a hard and frightening place to be.

[mark]

Brett, really sorry to hear this. You and your mom are in my thoughts.

--mark

[Hedge]

Brett - my Grandmother went through the same thing so my mother got to experience everything your going through right now. I was kinda young back then so it was more like, Granny is loosing her mind. However, the worst part is that this is a hereditary disease and i see my parents starting to get ramped up with it as well right now and that worries me very much. Even more troublesome is that I am admitting for the first time that I am loosing a bit of my memory as well. SO if I owe anyone any money your shit out of luck because I cannot remember borrowing any from you!

Brett - just remember, we are powerless over this disease and we can only comfort our love ones the best we can. You are going to break through to the next level of patience & tolerance of others and have a renewed capacity for compassion. Eventually you will have to let go like my mother had to because it becomes just to painful to witness anymore. My mom put her in an assisted living facility when she had no idea who anyone was and became very argumentative. Unfortunately, or fortunately she died soon after that at the age of 90.

My prayers go out to you and your family!
John

[Whisperinsmith]

Brett,

I think your post brings home one of the reasons for this event. We have to take each day and grab all we can from it.

I just had a long discussion last night with a young couple and in the end we all agreed sometimes dirty tricks are played on us for no damn good reason. It's just the way it is. One more reason to ride.

[b_mason]

To everyone that is standing with me now.

Thank you for the words of guidance, strength, support. It means alot to me to hear/read them. I shall stand strong for her for as long as I can.

Hank, thank you for you story. I will spend as much time with her for her and me.

[rbcathlos]

Brett,
Sorry to hear about your bad news. The close relationships we develop with our families and close friends are life’s greatest treasures. One of the biggest comforts is the knowledge that we are not alone in time of crisis. It is estimated that over five million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. With that figure there is bound to be many people who have and are currently going through what you are facing now. There is an organization called the Alzheimer’s Association. They have a web site, alz.org that contains information on care and support for those affected by the disease. They also sponsor a 24/7 hotline that provides information, support, and I believe service referrals. The number is (800)272-3900. Preparing yourself with knowledge will help with the choices you will be facing in the future. In my career I deal with people and their life crisis on a daily basis. I have not been through what you are going through personally, however I have assisted Alzheimer’s victims and their caregivers on occasion. If I can be of help in located a support network for you, email me and I’ll forward my direct contact information to you.
Jeff

[TonUp]

Brett!


Sorry to hear about your mom. But hang in there you have to be strong for your son, think of all the good things your mom has done for you and your family, take care of you mom. Love her always!


Tito


Ton Up!

PS My mom passes away in 2000 at age 63, I miss my mom, she is always with me.

[b_mason]

Hank and Pete,

Last night Myself and the family spent the entire evening with my mom. Hank you gave me the courage to talk to her about what is going on, what needs to be done, where she wants to go with everthing. Pete I used your idea of story telling, just modifed it a little. While she is still able she is going to write down her life's memories. Thay way when it does get worse we'll be able to understand what she is talking about in regards to the old days before we were alive. It will give us her life and memories even after she is gone. It will be her history to the great grandchildren. That way I will still have her. She decide that we will laugh at this for as long as we can..

Jeff Thank you for the information offer. I will be in touch later today. I'm still at work right now.

I can't thank everyone enough for their words of guidance and support.

[Speedblastr]

Brett,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Mom.
I've helped care for my Mom (80 years old) through 2 hip replacement surgeries and now also I help my Mom care for my aunt (76 years old) who has degenerative cardiac disease, pulmonary disease and chronic depression. Caring for our aging parents is no easy task- very complicated emotionally.

Take a deep breath.....now take another one.....Once you'e got your bearings a bit, get as much support and education as you can about Alzheimers. Getting help & support to care for your Mom will give you the knowledge and strength to feel a little more in control of a hard and frightening place to be.

Brett , I feel for you. My Aunt ( Godmother) has it. They live next door. My Father passed late last year, due to a stroke which extended his illness. Mostly bedridden. Dude it nearly flattened me. Which is why I couldn't agree with Paula more. Make future plans for health care. If your like me it is hard thing to do : Juggle work and help with health care. Everybody had great things to say to help you. God Bless. Speed.