On November 5th 2012 a grade IV glioblastoma multiforme tumor was removed from my 56 year-old mother's right medial temporal lobe. She passed away January 29th 2014. My hope is that these pages help me work out the myriad ways in which our lives so drastically changed, and maybe also help other caregivers.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
life in the ship is beautiful
Today mom thought she was on a ship, her bedroom one of many staterooms. I opened the blinds (which she always keep shut) and showed her our front lawn. That settled that. But it seemed a delusion a propos my previous post and I wanted to share.
It reminds me also of a quote from Iron Island (Jazireh ahani), directed by Mohammed Rasoulof. An abandoned oil tanker in the Persian Gulf becomes a home to many poor families. It is slowly sinking. The "teacher" to the many children on the boat has them repeat the following each day. I paraphrase:
"The sea is vast and spectacular.
The ship sinks more in the sea each day.
Life in the ship is beautiful."
I think it's a lovely credo.
Image: Gentile da Fabriano's "St. Nicholas Saving a Ship from the Tempest," c. 1425, link, from the predella of the Quaratesi Polyptych.
Labels:
brain cancer,
cancer,
caregiver,
mental health
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