Just a little over three years ago we brought our parents to Abramson. I want to thank with all my heart the folks at Abramson for allowing the miracle of having our parents stay together.
A place where they could see their 75th wedding anniversary. And spend their last months for my dad and years for my mom, that allowed them to live and die with as much dignity as possible when you are 97 years old and not in great health. They kept as much independence as they could and were really well cared for medically and socially. Our family is so appreciative.
I/we grew up in Levittown, in the Appletree section. Many afternoons I recall my mother making tea and bringing it to a neighbor, an elderly man who lived behind us with his adult son. He was blind and stayed home all day when his son was at work. My mother brought him tea never knowing she would one day also be blind.
When she became blind she didn't sit and hope someone would be kind enough to bring tea. Instead she learned how to get around this building, going up and down the elevator using a walker with a sign that said Low Vision. She ordered food from the cafe and taught the folks who worked there how she liked her food and coffee prepared.
If she didn't like the meal options in the dining room, she came to the cafe and ordered one of her favorite meals, hummus platter or lox sandwich on lightly toasted whole wheat bread, and always soup. She saved leftovers in plastic sandwich bags for later in case she got hungry, and placed them in a refrigerator upstairs that really just belonged to the staff.
She carried bags on her walker filled with things like tissues and cookies and plastic sandwich bags and many other necessities. She rearranged tables in the area in the town hall and set the table with plastic ware for her guests who would come with food for lunch or dinner, and went out to dinner or to visit family and friends on holidays when possible.
She took other residents under her wing, calling aides to take care of them when she thought they needed help. She made friends and gave them cookies to help them feel better, even though she wasn't supposed to. She listened to books on cassette and attended book groups. She shared her recipes in the cooking class, even teaching the leader how to make knishes. She sang in the choir, always laughing at how they chose her, because she didn't think she could sing. She memorized the lyrics since she couldn't see them printed, and she couldn't see the person leading. But she did it anyway. She always said she did not want to be like her blind grandmother who stayed on a sofa all day.
She was a force, never letting her lack of hearing or her limited vision stop her. She made friends even though it was hard when she couldn't make eye contact or recognize faces. She voted in every election. The strength she gained in raising a large family with very little money and overcoming many challenges persisted throughout her life.
We are so thankful to the folks at Abramson for allowing her and encouraging her to live out her life as she was used to doing so fully.
We have so much gratitude.
Thank you.
