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Mom at 90
By John W. Kennedy | April 3, 2008
My mother, Mescal, turns 90 on Saturday. She says she just as soon would not have the distinction of being the oldest person ever in our family (Aunt Lois died at 91 a few years ago). But, despite a broken hip over the winter, my mom’s doctor believes she could live to be 100 because she’s in generally good health.
The broken hip slowed her down. But after being in a hospital, rehabilitation center and nursing home for more than two months, she’s back at her assisted-living facility. She now must use a walker to get around, but she’s able to go to the complex dining room for three meals a day and keep in touch with friends by e-mail.
It’s amazing that my mother was around during World War I, prior to the enactment of Prohibition and even before the advent of radio programming.
But according to a recent Boston University study, living to the century mark isn’t that unusual anymore. The university’s School of Medicine even has a Web site dedicated to checking out your odds of making it to the milestone. Indeed, the U.S. Census Bureau now says the 85 and older crowd is the fastest-growing segment of senior adults.
I’m grateful for the medical technology advances of the past century. My mother’s dad died at 49; my father’s mom died at 42. I’ve already passed them both in longevity.
Topics: aging |
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Love the picture!
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
hooray for grams!