Finding the Answers in the Small Moments

When my mother was diagnosed with a serious illness—Progressive Supranuclear Palsy—I became her full-time
caregiver. It’s not a role I would have chosen, but it was necessary for me to take it on.

When she became bedridden from her disease, there was very little that she could do for herself. Much of my caregiving duties involved anticipating what she wanted or needed. But there was still one thing we could do together. We would faithfully watch Jeopardy five nights a week.

My mother was a very intelligent person. She had a wide range of knowledge that made her a great Jeopardy player. She always impressed me when she got an answer right in a subject that I knew little about.

Her disease robbed her of so much. Even speaking one simple word was often a challenge for her. So sometimes when I would shout out the answer to a Jeopardy question, I knew that I was speaking for her too.

My mother passed away in 2008. I still watch Jeopardy because it’s a great reminder of my mother and the time we shared together.