My Mom and Dad

My name is Donna. One of seven children of Marilyn & Ed Battelli of Medford, MA. My Mom was diagnost with Bulbar ALS in 1995 after a cruise to Bermuda with my Dad. She was never sick and then Boom, ALS Our stories are so similar that it is frightening. From loosing her beautiful voice, to not being able to swallow (thus feeding tube) to tripping (and breaking her hip)and thus not moving at all, to a trache..I have been there. My Dad like yours did EVERYTHING for her. We had the same supply room like you do in your living room. But...we all pitched in. We had the best doctors (Dr. Brown being one of them..Let him know by the way that the Battelli daughters said "Hi". Our nurses were like family. Everyone of us learned how to feed through the feeding tube, change the feeding tube, suction through her trache,excersizes...the whole bit. We did through all the saddness have alot of funny moments too. I loved every minute we had with her. She loved being with us all. Sadly 3 yrs into this all my dad was diagnost with lung cancer. He lived for only 6 weeks. We had to now take care of my both parents under one roof. It was so sad. We got to know the guys at the ambulance dept very well. My Mom did not want go on without my dad. I think she thought it would be too hard on us kids. I would have taken care of her forever but her choice was to go to heaven with him. My Dad passed on 2/10/00 and my Mom on 2/12/00 ( she asked to be taken off of life support) They both were home with us kids to the very end. They were waked side by side on Valentines Day. But...I can look into the Heaven every night and smile knowing that I took wonderful care of both of them amd knew that THEY knew it. Your parents sound like my parents were. A very loving family. Your are lucky, some can't say that. I wish you the best and give you parents a hug from me. Tell your Dad that he is doing a Good Job. And tell your Mom you Love her every moments you get.

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