Jackson Hospital | Partners | Winter 2018

4 Jackson Hospital FOR MOM An artist’s reflection on the changes Alzheimer’s brings COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ART By Elmore DeMott As an artist, I use the medium of photography to express thoughts and emotions. Since August 2, 2016, I have taken a photograph of a flower every single day. This bud- ding series is called “Flowers for Mom” and it’s my artistic response to being the daugh- ter of someone with Alzheimer’s disease. There are days of feeling lost in the weeds, of grieving over what is no longer blooming and of being bothered by pests in the garden of life. Even so, when I pause and pay attention, what I see are new buds showing prom- ise, beautiful flowers to be enjoyed exactly as they are and butterflies pollinating the garden to ensure future blooms. A person with brain disease is still very much alive, yet parts of the brain have ceased to bloom. As evident in this floral odyssey, even as things fade and their previous beauty is changed, they remain appealing and very much present and within our view. This is not unlike the journey of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Even amidst con- cern for infection, dehydration and appetite, we get to hold Mom’s hand, see a spark of recognition when a friend comes to visit and hear her say “thank you.”What joy there is in such tiny flower petals! When facing whatever hardships we may be given in life, flowers remind us that we can discover beauty in the most unexpected ways. Flowers give us tangible proof that as blossoms fade, life goes on, and seed pods provide the promise of the sons and daugh- ters of future blooms. May we choose to celebrate the good days and know that as the seasons change, we can continue to find hope and cherish the flowers just as they are.