The Last Cookie: Another Stage in Mom's Alzheimer's Care

I just read your story about feeding your Mom her last cookie.

My Mom had MS for over 30 years.  When she was 86 years old she had a stroke which impeded her swallowing ability.  At the hospital an NG (nasal gastric) tube was put in her nose to provide supplements.  The doctors were hesitant to suggest a PEG tube (one inserted surgically into her stomach) because she was already a frail quadraplegic of advanced age.  However, she desperately wanted to live and she told us she wanted to risk having the surgery.  I talked a surgeon into it.  She came through the surgery wonderfully and for the next 4 years she enjoyed life.  She could not swallow much of anything by mouth, but the nutrients (and vitamins) we fed her thru the tube kept her healthy, with even a weight gain.  About every 4 months we needed to have the tube replaced with a new one by a trained nurse.  Mom was able to

see her great grandchildren be born and enjoy getting to know them.  She enjoyed

those last years, which would have been denied her if we had not opted to use a feeding tube.  Your mother's case may be different because of her mental capacity,

but my word out there to anyone who is

against feeding tubes is that they are lifesavers.  I would not hesitate to have one myself if it was the difference of staying alive or not.  People can live with them for years, and if you do research on it you will find that even little children sometimes need them.  Good luck.

I love this site...I have been noticing that Mom has been having difficulty swallowing.  It's esp. hard if the foods are fresh fruits or veggies, or crispy crunchy foods.  She doesn't seem to chew very much and too often ends up coughing and choking to bring up the food that is stuck.

I hadn't heard about that issue until I read this post, but was aware of Mom's difficulty.  It's always good to know that others are experiencing the same things.  thanks for the insight...when we get her back to the dr. (it's always a challenge with her too) we'll point that out.