Dec 28, 2014 2 min read

Readers met Virginia Lama Pro, a resident at the Washington County Health Center’s Alzheimer’s unit, in April.

Virginia, who turns 84 in January, doesn’t have any of the illnesses associated with the elderly, such as diabetes or heart disease.

But her daughter, Johnna Pro, sees her mother deteriorating. Her hands and legs are contracting, especially at night when she curls up into the fetal position.

She suffered a seizure during the summer, but it caused no permanent health problems.

Pro worked with the staff at the health center to get Virginia a customized wheelchair, which fits her better than the one she spent her days in.

Pro said the wheelchair has helped because it is appropriately fitted to Virginia and helps her sit up better.

“It’s really been very good for her. She seems a little bit more alert, probably because she’s comfortable,” said Pro.

Making her mother comfortable is the priority of Pro and the health care staff at this point.

“She’s never getting better,” said Pro. “If my mom didn’t have Alzheimer’s, she’d be walking around fine, and that’s what saddest for me.”

A longtime legal secretary, Virginia had a fondness for word games, attended church regularly and had a busy social life.

Pro said she told Virginia on a recent visit that she wished her mother could be home with her to bake, and Virginia responded by saying, “I think I could do that.”

“It was totally unexpected, one of those rare moments of clarity,” said Pro.