Some people may wonder how I can tell this story--how can I tell all of these personal things? If I really loved my mother, how can I tell bad things about her?

It wasn't my mother when bad things happened. It was the disease--Alzheimer's. In the good times I saw glimpses of my mother, as she really was before Alzheimer's started taking her from us, and I cherish those moments. While I was taking care of her, it was so helpful to me to read biographies and personal stories, some even in the form of journals, by Alzheimer's caregivers. I want to help others the way those authors helped me. So then, how can I not tell this story?

It may be slow coming, as I read through the three notebooks full of my scribbled writing. There are times when I just can't get myself to do it--when the memories are too painful. But as I can, I will tell more of our story here.

My Journal

August-October 1994

November 1994

December 1994

January 1995

Copyright © 1994, 1997 Brenda Parris Sibley

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