Saturday Oct 18 '25

Daily updates provided on WhatsApp to the group "Mom"

(when the cell towers go down, WhatsApp will still be working)

A Visit with Mom: Small Changes, Big Impact

This morning, I arrived around 8:30 a.m. and found Mom in the hallway. Her face lit up when she saw me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. I was carrying a bunch of cola to restock her supply, so I headed straight for her room, with her trailing behind. She asked, “Do you know where you’re going?” I chuckled and said, “Yes, don’t you?” She replied, “Not really.” I told her, “Just follow me.”

When I opened her refrigerator, I was shocked to find it completely empty. This was surprising because it had been well-stocked the last time I visited. It hit me that when I begin traveling,  I’d never know when her fridge was empty unless I could see it during our video calls. So, I decided to make a change. I moved her refrigerator to the opposite side of the room, swapping its place with her chair. This small rearrangement made things more convenient in two ways. First, I can now see the fridge when she opens it during our video chats. Second, it gave me a comfortable spot to sit and watch TV with her when I visit. As a bonus, the move freed up a plug outlet, so I could put her tall lamp back in its proper place.

While I was there, I noticed a young man named Daniel, who cleans the rooms, hallways, and bathrooms. I hadn’t seen him in a while, but this guy is truly amazing. As soon as Mom spots him, she calls out for him to come in and chat. Daniel always stops what he’s doing and takes the time to talk with her, sometimes for 20 minutes or more if she’s in the mood. He’s just fantastic, and it’s clear he brings a lot of joy to her day.