August 2004

I received these emails from my mother in August of 2004 about her experience living with Nana. I've redacted all names except my Nana's. It is my feeling that my Nana's loss of vision and independence accelerated her decline. She is understandably frustrated in these early emails. I cannot imagine how difficult this experience must have been after more than 80 years of being self-sufficient.

Aug 22, 2004
Nana has been having serious trouble with her vision. She can’t see her doctor until next Wednesday. She is hoping that the problem is just a cataract that can be removed. Until then, she can’t drive or play the organ. She is not a happy camper.

Aug 23, 2004
They put down rat poison about ten days ago. I have not seen or heard any rats lately. It has been a real battle to get Nana to put food away. The other day I found three Ritz crackers with peanut butter on the counter. When I asked her about them, she said that she planned to give them to the dog later. Peanut butter is what they put on the rat traps. She just has left food around all her life. She does not think that it is important. So I guess that I will just have to keep putting it away for her. She has no plans to change at her age.

Nana’s vision is more of a concern. A (my aunt) is taking her to a specialist at the moment. She couldn’t get an appointment with her regular eye doctor until Wednesday. I do not know if it was a lack of good communication skills, or if the girls at that doctor’s office were just being difficult. Nana’s vision seems to have become very poor in just a couple of weeks. She thinks that it is a cataract. But I have never heard of a cataract problem getting so bad so quickly. I will let you know as soon as we hear anything new.

Aug 23, 2004
It appears that Nana has macular degeneration in both eyes now. About three years ago when Nana was first diagnosed, the doctor told her that there was no treatment for the problem. Today she was told that there is treatment that is still experimental. But at least there is some hope now. A will take her back on Wednesday for an office procedure, and to JFK Hospital next Monday for some laser treatment. When Nana told the doctor that she would have to quit her church job, the doctor winked at her and told her not to do that yet.