Confabulation

Confabulation

Definition:  con·fab·u·late   (kən-făb′yə-lāt′) [1]
intr.v. con·fab·u·lat·ed, con·fab·u·lat·ing, con·fab·u·lates
1. To talk casually; chat.
2. Psychology To fill in gaps in one's memory with fabrications that one believes to be facts.

Confabulation is distinguished from lying as there is no intent to deceive and the person is unaware the information is false. [2]
----------

On Saturday I learned a new word the hard way - confabulation.

Long story short, I watched as a doctor asked my mother, who is experiencing the effects of Alzheimer's, some basic questions.  Although her answers were not direct nor specific, my mom answered confidently with the best answer her brain would allow.   She did a pretty good job, and in each instance, you knew she had the answer.  The answers may not have sounded right, but for all of us in the room, they felt right.  Moreover, in her unique way, they were right.  I felt so sad to watch my mom in her state of helplessness.  However, I felt proud of her trying to make sense of the memories, words, and phrases she could recall.  She answered with a smile.  That was a few days ago.   I am now learning new ways to communicate with her.  When I realized today she seemed a little tired early afternoon I suggested I needed to have a nap.  She said she wanted to have one too, so she did and held my hand as she napped and I listened to her breathing.  

I love my mom.

[1] freedictionary.com
[2] Wikipedia