Fran’s Song: My Mother’s Triumph over Alzheimer’s
By Ron Cooper
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By Ron Cooper
Every day in the Alzheimer’s ward of Mom’s nursing home, she and her fellow residents engaged in exercises to strengthen their minds. One day, the activities aide held up a flash card of a tree and asked Mom and her companions to identify it. They answered in a chorus, “Tree!”
“Good!” the aide said.
Then the aide held up a picture of a rose. It was a black-and-white drawing, but still these people with tenuous memories recalled a symbol of beauty and nature.
Clara identified it as a “flower” and several of her friends agreed. Mom didn’t respond. You could tell that she was thinking. The aide pressed for more specifics, and Mom answered:
“A rose is a rose is a rose.”
For a split second, Fran Cooper had defeated this deteriorating disease that makes a mockery of your remembrances and steals your yesteryear, bit by agonizing bit. This, I thought, needs to be chronicled! I got out my notebook. And so began a remarkable year of watching Mom interact with fellow residents of her memory care unit, singing, praying, loving.
I wrote my book to dispel the common myths surrounding Alzheimer’s. It’s simply not true that Alzheimer’s steals everything. As memories fade, the mind still ponders the wonders of life. The heart still loves intensely. The spirit still worships and prays. And the urge to sing is stronger than ever, and the notes are sweeter, more poignant.
And so it was with Mom. She gave me thoughtful advice on the eve of my wedding. She exchanged sweet love letters with dad. She voiced her faith through prayer, and was a song leader in her memory care unit. At one Christmas pageant, she held the audience spellbound with her beautiful rendition of “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Many years after her diagnosis, Mom was still able to say and do some remarkable things.
In “Fran’s Song: My Mother’s Triumph over Alzheimer’s,” I wanted to honor’s my mother’s memory as a special loved one with a steadfast faith and a lovely voice, not just someone losing her mind and failing to remember my name. Her story was not about my loss, but instead her new life in a most sacred space.
I also wanted to help others, so that in some small way family caregivers might be inspired by Mom’s unique journey. There is no reason we should walk this journey alone. Those living with Alzheimer’s need companionship, a gentle hand, respect, dignity and a good quality of life.
Feedback on my book has been positive, and many readers have been inspired by Mom’s story. One woman who faced the painful decision of placing her mom into an Alzheimer’s ward wrote,
“Thank you for the book, ‘Fran's Song.’ It really lifted my spirits and gave me some insights into my mom's world.”
An Amazon.com reviewer observed, “May this angelic lady with the angelic voice inspire you and may you receive peace from this book.”
I earnestly hope that readers of “Fran’s Song” are comforted during the hectic days of caregiving. These dear loved ones think, feel and love like us all. It just may not be apparent at first, but I assure you there is life, love and laughter inside. And it's in abundance!
Bio
Ron Cooper, a newspaper journalist for 25 years, turned to full-time freelance editing and writing in 1997. He has ghostwritten and edited several memoirs, including one about a young stroke victim, a six-year cancer survivor, and a Fortune 1000 CEO.
Recently, Ron published his second book titled, "Fran's Song: My Mother's Triumph over Alzheimer's" in tribute to his mother, Frances Cooper. "Fran's Song" lovingly recounts his mother’s new life in a new home, a memory care unit where song and prayer reigned and hope and love were in abundance.
Ron's first book, "Heart Happy: 50 Stories, Poems and Whimsical Writings to Inspire You!," was released in 2011. "Heart Happy" is an inspirational collection of simple acts of kindness and expressions of goodwill from grocery checkout lane to a busy highway. "Heart Happy" is available as eBook in the Kindle Store.
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