Dear Isabel
Isabel (You're My Mother)
Dear Mom,
I know you’ll never read this letter, and if I were to read it aloud to you, I know you wouldn’t understand it. So I write this as yet one more way to soothe my mental health.
Even though the last four years have been increasingly difficult, I am grateful you are still here with me. My days are filled with nonstop care for you. I don’t get much rest, and my back is always sore. I dream of the day when I’ll be free to sleep when I want and need to. But that freedom will come with a price, meaning I’ll have to lose you first. I can’t even imagine what life will be like without you. To be honest, I don’t want to go through life without you.
I remember the days when I was a teenager, so proud of how beautiful you were with your long dark hair and radiant smile. In my eyes, you were a beauty queen who deserved a diamond-studded crown. I was proud to hold your hand and walk beside you wherever we went.
I cherish the times when you’d call me and leave a voicemail singing Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You.” How corny I thought that was—but now I’d do anything to have that clever, funny, intelligent mom back.
Mom, I’m so grateful for the way you always told me you loved me and the little things you’d do when I least expected it. It’s because of you that I’ve survived some very rough times in my life.
Even though you are completely blind and advanced dementia has changed your behaviors and taken away the ability to perform even the simplest tasks, like brushing your teeth, there’s still a glimpse of that person you once were. Your humor shines through every once in a while, and when it does, it brightens my day more than you’ll ever know. It brings me so much joy that tears roll down my cheeks. Most importantly, your love is always there. I love it when you grab my hand and start kissing it over and over, telling me you love me with such passion. Love is one thing dementia cannot take away.
Dear Mom, there are days when the dementia affects your behavior in a very negative way. You become unmanageable and extremely stubborn. Sometimes you’re combative—you punch, kick, curse, and even bite. You’ve bitten me about a dozen times over the past few years, and it hurts, both physically and emotionally. Some days, I want to give up, and send you away to a care facility. But I won’t. I promised you that I would never put you in a home. I remember the day you told me, “Please, Rick, don’t ever put me in a home.” I could hear the yearning in your voice, an echo that lingers in my mind. But mostly, I won’t put you in a home because I love you deeply. You’re my mother, you’re beautiful, and you mean everything to me. I know I can give you far better care in every way than you’d receive in one of those places.
It’s tough, yes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you dearly, and I’m grateful to have you here with me—to hold your hand, feed you, and help you along each step of your life. It means so much to be able to be here for you. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
To my mother: I just called to say I love you!
💜🩷💙
With much love, RHC ❤️
About the Creator
Rick Henry Christopher
Writing fulfills my need for intellectual stimulus, emotional release, and soothing the bruises of the day.
I’m an open book. I’m not afraid to show my face or speak my mind
Visit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vocalplusassist
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More stories from Rick Henry Christopher and writers in Humans and other communities.
To the Vocal Creators That Support Me... THANK YOU!!!
I was recently thinking about how I am totally grateful for the Vocal Creators that support my writing. As I grew up my mother taught me the importance of thanking those that 'help you along the way.'
By Rick Henry Christopher 2 years ago in Humans
The Summoning of the Tree Spirit. Runner-Up in The Ritual of Winter Challenge.
Thank God for Christmas. And Hanukkah. And Yule. And probably a myriad of midwinter gatherings of light, food, and family I’ve never even heard of. Winter is tough, and most of us benefit from something to make it more bearable. Personally, I consider myself lucky to live in an era where frozen earth need not equate to a hungry belly, but even though I can gain eight hundred lumens of light at the flick of a switch, how much more pleasure is there in one hundred little five lumen bursts on a string? Or just fifteen in a candle’s steady glow?
By Hannah Moore25 days ago in Humans
Comments (41)
This is absolutely beautiful ❤️
🤗🤗🤗🤗💕❤️
Congratulations on the runner up!!! You reached your goal of winning a challenge in 2024!!!❤️❤️💕
Congratulations on Runner Up - Well Deserved!!!
Congratulations 🎉👏 Excellent tribute. So nice to hear how devoted you are to care for her at home, as hard as it is.
MEGA-Congratulations Rick! So heartfelt and more than deserving of being featured as the reliability factor is off DA CHAIN! The line that got me write in the feels was "Love is one thing dementia cannot take away." I will always remember the last time my Mom told me that she loved me before advanced dementia and Alzheimer's took away her ability to speak. Love is all! I joy in how you are with your Mom, the way that you take care of her through all the tough times and how your heart feels as it leaps through the terrific times. Truly a blessing, and your Mom is a celebrity thanks to your writing. Thank you for sharing her with the world Rick, and once again well done for placing in the challenge!
Huge congrats, my friend! You said you wanted to get a badge as part of your goals this year. And guess what? You did it! So happy for you! 🍻🏅👀
Congratulations! Well deserved placing in the challenge… a powerful piece.
So glad to see this got the recognition it so deserved! Congratulations. I know your mama is proud of the man you are!
Congrats on the challenge runner-up, Rick, with this beautiful piece!
Congrats, great to see you on the winner's list Rick!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Hooray! Congrats on your placement for this touching letter, Rick! 😊👏
Wow, Rick - kudus to you for being such a loving son! Dementia is a hard thing to deal with, and you are a star! ⭐️ Congratulations on TS and the contest!! My thoughts are with you … 🤗🙏🙏
Back to say huge congratulations
A well-wrought and lovely tribute! A well deserved top story!
What a wonderful tribute, song & slideshow for your dear precious Mum…💖 A favourite line was: “ Love is one thing dementia cannot take away.”🥹 I’ve always liked this song of Stevie W’s✅.
This letter from a dedicated son to his mom is heartbreakingly beautiful.
Many of us who have been caregivers understand the stress of day-to-day living for you and your mother. All of us who have loved and cherished a mother understand your love for yours. I am thankful you continue to share your life with her. This is a very touching tribute to her.
Fantastic letter and tribute to your mom!!! Your mom is receiving the best care and you honored her wishes!!!❤️❤️💕 Congratulations on Top Story!!!
This is great!! 💕💗Thank you for sharing your mother with me! ❤️Congratulations on the well deserved top story!!🎉🎉🎉🎉
I loved this, so beautiful.
Rick, I wanted to read this earlier, but family events at the time made me pause as I knew how emotional this would be to read. I Feel as if I have come to know your mother and I was not yet prepared. This is everything I thought it would be. An excellent heartfelt and emotional piece. Congratulations
Finally I’m here Rick, I’m sorry this has taken so long since seeing in Vocal + Assist. Congratulations on your TS! Thank you for welcoming me into your life with your Mum. It’s so hard to express in a comment how deeply this has impacted me. And their in there lies your gift. “I promised you that I would never put you in a home. I remember the day you told me, “Please, Rick, don’t ever put me in a home.” I could hear the yearning in your voice, an echo that lingers in my mind. But mostly, I won’t put you in a home because I love you deeply.” And there you are with your Mum! The power of photos. Our family lost my Mum to early-onset Dementia. My only way of coping is to see her through my sons eyes. Ross is the person he is today because of her. I also have a ritual, and it may seem strange - to travel this portal of Ross to Mum. I listen to a song from Britain’s Got Talent. Harry Gardeners audition ‘Not alone’ (2017) https://youtu.be/1b4Mcza4dw0 With love Pauline 💕
I found this through the Raise Your Voice thread... and so glad I did have the pleasure of reading it. ⚡♥️⚡