Had a bit of an intense moment earlier today. Me, the only reason I’m able to control my condition with MS is because I’m watching my nutrition. お母さん, on the other hand, isn’t what you’d call a listener. Her ALS is far more severe and progressing rather quickly, mainly because she insists on eating whatever she damn well pleases. In the 15 years I’ve known my mother-in-law, I’d watched her eat mainly either bread, persimmons, or peanuts, and the only vegetables I’d witnessed wandering into her gullet were the ones we prepared, and more often than not she still only ate her bread and fruit. Thing is, when she’s eating like we eat, she feels a little better. But she actually kinda WANTS to die, which is what makes this so difficult. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, it’s so unsettling to witness. When she speaks, it’s frighteningly slow, and because she couldn’t swallow hardly at all before Mrs S started looking after her, she shriveled down to nearly starvation level. TOUGH AS NAILS, she was. The antithesis of the stereotypical sweet little old Japanese lady, with a 20 year death wish since the late great Koji-San passed away of cancer in 1998. So hardcore, she picked a fight with a Yakuza gangster over a parking space and won, as he skunk away looking in every direction to make sure nobody saw him get his ass kicked by an old lady. We used to joke that she was so chingona that she might even outlive us. But to see her deteriorate so rapidly was a true reality check for us both. One day at a time, moment by moment, we’rein this. Thanks to everyone who’s following along on this journey with us. #alscaregiverlife #amyotrophiclateralsclerosis #lougehrigsdisease #nutritionalawareness #breadisthedevil #breadisdelicious #seewhatimsaying #caregivinginjapan #eatrightfeelright #onedayatatime🕰 #momenttomoment #injapantohelp #joinmeonthisjourney #losangelestojapan #heretohelp #emotionalsupporthuman #ilovemywifesomuch #wevegotthisshit #togetherwecandothis (at Otsu, Shiga) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtnRHiuFJhO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3rbvwg5h9g5e
