Nothing is Over until it’s Over!

Author Greg O’ Brien teaches us that “Alzheimer’s is not about the past—the successes, the accolades, the accomplishments… Alzheimer’s is about the present and the struggle, the scrappy brawl, the fight to live with a disease. It’s being in the present, the relationships, the experiences, which is the core of life, the courage to live in the soul.”

In essence he points out the life is lived best in the present!

My MoM Anna, infamously known to many as Anna Bell, has spent a good part of her life either pondering over the past or worrying about the future. So much so that it started to break her mind.

She hid much from the world but what she did give is heart, her Love, her joy, and her beautiful smile!

Regardless of all the scrappy brawl going on in her head, she would have a BIG smile to greet you with.

My MoM’s journey with dementia begin in 2018. She’d suffered the loss of her eldest brother (whom she was very close to, and as I say, that’s when the dam begin to leak). Late in 2018, she suffered the loss of another brother and even to this day, I am not sure if the totality of that she still understands. It was during this time when her forgetfulness became much more than just, I don’t know I put the keys.

Late Spring of 2019 her symptoms and signs of dementia had grown worse, to the point the doctor finally suggested that she could no longer work, and/or live alone. She’d become a risk to herself and others.

This was a sad thing to hear, my MoM had made her career in caring for others as a CNA, which she loved dearly. Work wasn’t work for Anna Bell, because smiling and bringing joy into the life of others was just who she was!

The story in between then and today brings both joy and sorrow to my heart. I mean it is hard to hear that your MoM is going to one day forget who she is to you (LOADED statement). But along the way, we’ve made some great memories!

Sadly, in February 2022 we had to move her into an assisted living facility, but GOD!

Let me stop and say that if you know my MoM, you know that God truly favors her! His hand has always been on her life!

We made the move fun, exciting, invited family and friends to participate, and let me tell you God moved some hearts. People (friends, family, and colleagues) donated over $300+ dollars to assist with Anna Bell’s move in day!

It was epic! And for as long as I live, and can remember, I will never forget this HUGE display of love for my mother Anna Bell!

Just the other day, I visited her, and though our conversations are very limited now, we still make memories!

We sat out on the porch together, eating watermelon, listening to gospel music and rocking the day away enjoying the scenery, and the cool of the afternoon after a hot summer’s day.

It breaks my heart sometimes that my MoM is battling such a disease, but I know that God knows what’s best for her.

Each time I see her and she still greets me with that sparkle of joy in her eyes and that great BIG Beautiful SMILE, I know two things: 1) She still knows who she is to me and 2) it is not over until it’s over!

So please find it in your heart to support the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s by making a pledge to our fundraiser and/or join our team and have fun, smile, get healthy, and take the 60/60 day Challenge with team #AnnaBells!

God Bless you,

Lakisha Mitchell-Buffington
Team Captain & Loving Daughter