Nicole Robichaud, a lawyer and caregiver in Ottawa, shares her personal journey in this First Person account. If you’d like to explore more First Person stories by CBC, check out the FAQ section.
Almost three decades ago, a folk art calendar found its way into my mother’s possession, becoming a cherished annual Christmas gift tradition in our family. Despite the passage of time, the origin of this tradition remains a mystery, but its significance has endured over the years.
During my childhood in Toronto, the holiday season was always a joyous occasion for my family. Amidst the festive decorations and presents, my mother held a special fondness for this art calendar, taking pleasure in admiring the vibrant paintings each month, with December’s snowy scenes being her favorite.
In 2015, at the age of 68, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Having witnessed her own father’s battle with the same illness two decades earlier, she faced the reality of what lay ahead with courage and resilience.
Despite initial struggles with memory lapses and confusion, she remained optimistic and tried to maintain a cheerful demeanor as the disease progressed.
Over the years, the relentless progression of the disease necessitated changes in our living arrangements. In 2017, my parents relocated to a retirement home in Ottawa, where my father eventually passed away, leading my mother to move to the memory care unit. By 2021, confined to a wheelchair, she transitioned to a smaller living space.
Throughout these transitions, the constant presence of the calendar remained unchanged.
As my mother’s cognitive abilities declined, reaching a point where basic tasks became challenging, I found solace in the fleeting moments of humor amidst the struggles. Even in her delusional states, like believing in a royal visit, her joy was palpable.
With time, my mother’s capacity to engage with the calendar diminished. Eventually, even the simple act of appreciating the pictures became a distant memory.
Presently, I often find my mother in varying states of consciousness, a poignant reminder of the challenging phase we are in. Despite these hardships, the act of ordering the calendar each year has become a ritual that prompts