My grandmother Rosie has helped me thoughout my life because she opened up so many open doors for me. She had taught me how to be respsonible and to care for a person. I learned all these wonderful blessings from her Alzheimer's. She had indirectly taught me how to be responsible and to care for a person, this has helped me determine what i want to become and what i want to go to school for. I want to make an impact on other peoples lives like the impact on my grandmothers life, and this is my story.
I was on my way to the Cohasset Knoll, when my mom called me. She told me to go home and make Grandma Rosie a CD of her favorite songs, because she was getting sick of my aunt Mary’s singing. My mom gave me a list of songs and I rushed home to make the CD. Shortly afterwards I called my mom to let her know that I was again on my way. She told me not to go up and that Rosie was in the hands of God, she was at peace. Tears filled my eyes and I was in a state of shock. Rosie is my grandmother I grew up with her and her Alzheimer’s. I have 18 cousins they all knew my grandmother in a way that I would never see or understand. They have told me many stories about her that proves she was a high spirited person, great personality, and was always in the kitchen. I thought about how unfortunate I did not know such an amazing person like herself before she was ill. Building a new relationship with Rosie was tough at first, but later I realized how fortunate I was to be apart of her life.
Repeating the tracks on a CD labeled “Grandma Rosie’s CD”, I started to think how much of an impact she had on me. By the time Rosie was in the nursing home her Alzheimer’s had gotten much worse. Even thought she was sick, my grandmother had made me more responsible, and devoted. She gave me hope and faith to believe in things I never believed in. I would bring my grandfather to visit my grandmother at lease three times a week. We would bring her up special snacks like an ice cream or a mint patty. I had gained the responsibility each week bringing my grandfather to visit my grandmother. I had only hoped that she would remember me as the grand daughter who would take her out and visit her. Seeing my grandfather visiting my grandmother day after day made me believe that anything could happen through the thick or thin. After my grandmother passed away I had a lot of faith to believe in true devotion and true love. Seeing my grandfather visiting my grandmother day after day made me believe in anything could happen through the thick or thin. He also showed me how to be a stronger person and how to have faith within your self. Seeing him survive the death of his wife, he gives me the strength to believe.
Saturday morning’s my mom and I would visit my grandmother Rosie, we would go shopping at the South Shore Plaza and grabbed lunch at a local restaurant. At this time Rosie had the beginning of Alzheimer’s, this was a big adjustment for my family. I only knew my grandmother with Alzheimer’s so it wasn’t a big transition for me. It was like I had to build a relationship with a stranger, who I had known my whole life. As I walked into her room I greeted her and told her that I had a surprise for her. JJ's Dairy Hut was only two minutes away so I stopped there and got her a soft serve vanilla ice cream. I knew she had appreciated it; she had a big smile on her face and there was a sparkle to her eyes.
Rosie was a big influence on me; and I had a lot of respect for her. Without her I would never be the person I am today. Indirectly she has given me advice through responsibility, she taught me a life time full of lessons. Responsibility, patience, and being more devoted made me realize I was growing up. Rosie still lives with me today in my heart and will always be there. She herself has influenced my life and made me a better person today.