Mothercare : an autobiographical essay
(Book)

"On obligation, love, death, and ambivalence"--Cover.

"When a mother's unusual health condition renders her entirely dependent upon you, your sisters, caretakers, and companions, the unimaginable will become daily life. In Mothercare, Lynne Tillman writes an honest and straightforward account of doing the impossible: handling her mother as if she were a child; navigating the unnavigable medical world, and confronting her own emotions regarding a suddenly, forever changed relationship to mother and care. In late 1994, Lynne Tillman's mother became ill. For about 11 years this unexpected event changed the focus of three daughters, various caretakers, doctors, and aides. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is an unusual condition that's difficult to accurately diagnose. From one day to the next, Tillman's mother went from someone she knew to someone else, becoming entirely dependent on her children in the process. Finding out what happened, and how to cure or treat the condition meant seven surgeries; several misdiagnoses and incorrect prescriptions; confrontations with doctors; and complications associated with memory loss. MOTHERCARE is at once a cautionary tale, and also a reverential invitation for any caretaker who can relate to suddenly becoming responsible for the life management practices of a parent, loved or not. This story may be helpful, informative, consoling, or upsetting, and it never fails to underscore how impossible it is to get the job done completely right"--Provided by publisher.