First Post

In late March of 2009, my mother went to the emergency room with a abscess that had been infected with MRSA (Methicillan-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of staph that is very fast and does not respond to typical antibiotics). On this day, I went to her house to pick up her dog and discovered that her problem has returned.

My mother suffers from compulsive hoarding. Her house and car are filled with an enormous, overwhelming amount of STUFF. TRASH. JUNK. Thousands of books, hundreds of pounds of newspapers and magazines, enough Christmas decorations for six houses, discarded products and empty wrappers. At the start of this project, she had two pets - a dachshund named Oscar who is not housebroken, and a 17 year old cat named Wheaties who lived in only one room. Add the overwhelming scent of animal waste to the already powerful odor of mold, dust and rotting food, and you have the stink that hits you as soon as you open her front door. It's a five room home (seven if you include the bathroom), and only 2 were usable. And those were limited.

This is the home I grew up in. Most of my personal posessions left a long time ago, but the memories remain embedded in the walls. To see my childhood home in this state is horrifying. It's more horrifying to see it after my husband (then boyfriend) and I cleaned it all for her four years ago. Since then, she was upset enough at me to tell me she didn't want my help anymore. Four years ago was the last time I stepped inside the home. Late March of 2009 was the last time I decided to keep her secret.

Her doctors are sure that the deplorable conditions of her home contributed to her infection, as well as many of the health issues she has had over the years. Her compulsive hoarding has permanently damaged our relationship.

This blog is intended to be my collection of thoughts during this process. I will be angry, sad, hopeful, disappointed. I will use humor to deflect the pain. I will be scathing in my assessments. I will try to move on.