What would you choose for your last meal?
Now if you were on death row, you would know for sure that this was the last time you would eat, and could make a choice. It would still be hard– Greek?, Italian?, are you a steak person? or would you have fried chicken and mashed potatoes?
But what if you didn’t know what will be the last meal? What if your ability to eat slowly faded away. That’s what its been like for Joanne.
Because of the ALS, she has lost the ability to speak, swallow and control all those muscles in her face, neck and throat that we don’t even think about. I can’t understand not being able to control my tongue, lips and throat muscles….. wow what a thing to deal with.
In the summer, she was still eating pasta, and soft things like egg salad etc. Through the fall, she had problems eating food, and began drinking a lot more meals: soups, chocolate milk, ensure and boost meal replacement drinks, juices.
What was the last thing she truly ate? I don’t know.
Would you want to eat pureed food? (which is baby food– no matter how you try to dress it up). I love meat: steak, pork chops, chicken, roast pork and beef, shrimp, etc. But I WOULD NOT eat it pureed or liquified. No shrimp scampi milkshakes for this girl!!! Mushy sweet potatoes, maybe…. but salad??? NO Way!!
In the last few weeks, even the thick liquids are too much. Ensure, chocolate milk and iced coffee are all too hard to drink. So Joanne is down to Gatorade, ginger ale and water.
(Inappropriate Side Note— I did offer Joanne to publicize her “Gingerale Diet” –I lost weight, ask me how!!! She laughed (which was the point) but as anyone under serious stress knows, sometimes being stupid is the only solution to a stupid situation!!!)
She didn’t get a chance to have 5 Guys Burger or KFC or any other yummy for her last meal. Joanne is a FOODIE! She has spent her life going to the best restaurants everywhere she travelled. I know she was thrilled when my Uncle and Aunt’s AMAZING French restaurant in Siesta Key (www.miguelsrestaurant.net) served Dover Sole table side. (I don’t know why that is such a thrill, but apparently nobody does that anymore!! BTW, Miguel’s also makes an AMAZING Ceaser salad table-side, and the flaming desserts– Cherries Jubilee or Banana’s Foster– well you have to try them!– My cousins Dan and Gabe run the restaurant now. Seriously, if you are anywhere near Sarasota FL, check it out!)
So, no matter how crappy my lunch is, or how boring a dinner might be, I am going to enjoy it as much as possible. Its sounds cliché, but you never know if it might be your last. 
