Day13 - Nurturing Hope with Mother

Nurturing Hope Together with Mother

My mother has been diagnosed by the doctor with moderate dementia. Yet, when the topic arises in our conversations, she confidently declares, "I will never get dementia." I find myself wondering where such certainty comes from.

In the past, I might have tried to correct her misunderstanding. For instance, if I asked, "Mom, do you remember what you had for lunch?" my earnest mother wouldn't evade the question but might laugh and say, "I can't recall." However, now I choose not to point it out, feeling that doing so holds no real meaning.

I once heard a story about someone who, after suffering brain damage, was able to train the remaining parts of their brain to compensate for what was lost. One cause of dementia is brain atrophy, but perhaps by activating the unaffected areas, new possibilities can emerge. Of course, it may take time.

That's why I've begun to think: I want to nurture my mother's remaining brain together with her. I believe that someday her strong conviction—"I will not get dementia"—will become reality. To that end, I want to cherish our daily conversations and shared smiles, moving forward together.

There is still a definite light in my mother's eyes. To keep that light from fading, I too will hold onto hope. Even if the journey is long, I believe we can forge a new path together.