This post comes to us from Ellen Wysocki.
My beautiful mother was diagnosed with AD nearly 10 years ago and is in what they tell me are the latter stages of this horrid disease. When I look at her sweet face I can not help but feel we have been robbed-us as well as my mother. My wonderful daughter agreed to help with home care so we could remove our mom from the nursing home facility she was at. It was so difficult to visit her there and leaving was the worst part. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful daughter being that I work full-time, otherwise I would not be in a position to do this for her. And now she has returned the favor to me by gifting me with a sweet grand daughter who I constantly tease will be my caregiver one day. Life is coming full circle. I make a point of sitting baby on mom's bed every day just to see a glimmer of some kind of joy on her face. I am blessed.

Thank you Earlene Goff for your 3 beautiful poems. First of three...
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A Thief... 
A thief has been here, 
not taking the usual things 
but something precious and dear. 
What sadness to the family he did bring. 
He didn't sneak in over the window sill,
 or in the usual way 
but in his wake he still left everything in disarray. 
At first there was disbelief confusion, and shock. 
As the case unfolded slowly, 
you realize your faith has been rocked. 
The more you learn about this thief 
the more you realize 
how much he causes pain and grief without remorse or thought. 
This thief is the worse kind of thief 
because he doesn't take worldly possession , 
he steals your mind and leaves an empty shell in his wake. 
This Thief's name is Alzheimer's. 

Earlene J. Goff April 6, 2010 I lost my husband August 9, 2009 after about an 8 year battle with EOA

Poems from Earlene Goff...2 of 3
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I Miss… 
You were never one big on gifts, 
No matter what the occasion. 
I sometimes would bow my head 
With tears in my eyes saying only if. 
You were never much for cuddling 
Or even holding hands. 
Sitting alone was your thing 
as I sat alone huddling. 
I remember the little pecks, 
When you came up behind me 
Wrapping your arms around me 
I would always say what the heck. 
The trips we took I remember 
Some were long some were short 
Some places we were members. 
I miss your touch 
I miss your smile 
I miss your little sniffle 
But most of all I miss you. 

Earlene Goff December 19, 2008 

 Poems from Earlene Goff...3 of 3
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I can Only Hope For The Best
It's Midnight, a new day. 
Come Daylight I can only hope for the best. 
I've put him back to bed twice now, 
With darkness comes confusion 
Because he has forgotten how. 
Even the simplest things. 
This man I have known for twenty-nine years 
Has slipped away bit by bit before my very eyes. 
To the outside world he looks normal 
Those close can see the empty shell. 
This is a man that once could tell you anything 
You wanted to know about a vending machine, 
To a man that can't tie his own shoes. 
Imagine being in a foreign country, 
Where you don't know the language 
And you don't know where you are. 
Constantly looking for someone familiar. 
He knows his time is near 
He tells me all the time. 
He is constantly in fear 
Because he knows he is getting worse. 
As each day dawns,
There will be something new 
that he isn't able to do 
I tell him "That's ok" 
I still love you. 

Earlene Goff August 1, 2007