Finding Mom: A Daughter’s Rite of Passage

Description

In Finding Mom: A Daughter’s Rite of Passage, Nancy Hadley not only illustrates the universal issue that complex relationships exist between mothers and daughters but expresses the emotional journey commonly involved in caring for an ailing parent or stroke victim.  Hadley records her rite of passage as it happened during the six-year period of time that her mom suffered a tragic stroke and struggled through the aftermath of paralysis and loss of speech.
What is it like to be a caregiver for a stroke victim?
Being a stroke victim, Hadley’s mom was in and out of various hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Hadley was thrust into the role of caregiver without notice, which drastically impacted her daily life. Their mother-daughter relationship was tried and yet enriched through each ordeal.
What do I do when I’m with a stroke victim who can’t speak?
Hadley shares what she learned through the process with insights such as “it’s ironic that the time in life when I communicated the most with my mom was when she was unable to speak.  I wouldn’t trade that for an equivalent amount of time locked in the communication patterns we maintained while she was able to speak.”

“I found mom in the midst of losing her, strength in my most helpless moments, and hope in discouraging circumstances.  As I reflect on the irony, I see the wisdom of paradox, the logic of contradiction, and the balance in opposing forces.”

What do I do with a parent who is a stroke victim?
Hadley encourages others “to dig deep into the faces of their loved ones, linger in the intimate moments, break out of routine responses, and seize the moment to communicate.”