As many of you who are reading this know my sweet mother is in a Memory Care unit at Copeland Oaks in Sebring, Ohio. The distance between us is far and right now it seems even farther. The 550 miles that separate us seems like 5550 miles. I have to admit I am feeling a bit anxious about the inability to communicate with her.

I talked to the administrator in charge of her unit earlier last week to find out what the protocols were for visitors and staff and at that point they were limiting visitors to one and making them answer a series of questions as well as have their temperatures taken before allowing them to enter the unit. All staff were required to do the same procedures at the start of each shift. Later that day the facility stated that no more visitors were being allowed in except in extreme cases such as end of life.

Being far away and knowing that my mom can no longer really carry on a conversation on the phone like she once did has me on edge. I sent an email early Monday morning asking if someone could snap a picture of her sometime during the week and text it to me. I just needed to see her and know that she was okay. I know the staff is busy and didn’t want to impose but knew that being the caring staff that they are they would want family to be assured of their loved ones well being.

These three pictures arrived within an hour of me sending that email. My heart was happy and I felt relieved that she looked so good at breakfast. I am so grateful she is where she is, that she has loving staff attending to her and that they really do take care of her. Grateful. Thankful. Hopeful. Not sure when I will be able to actually see her in person now but I will hold on to these pictures and trust God.

Late addition: the following day I received this text with the note that these were my mom’s words as told to the director of the unit who wrote them down for her. My heart is full.