The Sweetest Memory is an organization founded by LaShanda Lemon-Curcio. In 2015 upon finding out that my late father, Marvin Pegues Jr, was diagnosed with stage 4 small non cell lung cancer, our lives changed completely. We prepared for chemo and radiation praying for a positive outcome. Within 5 months of starting the treatments, Dad was no longer able to walk and experienced excruciating headaches that left him with double vision. We soon learned that they had cleared the cancer from one area and it spread to his brain and bones. We began putting things in place and in proper perspective. We were proactive and hospice came in. My mom, siblings, family, and friends all pitched in around the clock to make his last days peaceful. We shared sweet memories, laughed, cried, and prayed. He and I were worried and concerned about my mom's mental capacity and how his departure would affect her lifestyle. Major adjustments were necessary and would soon include her relocating to NC to live with me. I knew then that my life would be dedicated and devoted to being a caregiver. I was prepared but not prepared for the mental changes, personal changes, financial changes, and physical changes that I myself was about to encounter. But I knew she was MY mom and we only get one. I was ready to do what we know comes naturally and be a full-time caregiver. Taking you back to 2013, Mom was often disoriented, forgetful, and misplacing things. There was an occurrence on a job that she encountered that left her in a place that I never saw her in before. After numerous doctor visits and concerns, my sister and I decided to ask about medication for Dementia, understanding the early signs from what we say our maternal grandmother portrayed. We immediately agreed to start her on medication for Dementia. We knew there wasn't a cure but it would "slow down" the progression stage. Taking all that into consideration. The Sweetest Memory was birthed. At first, we started doing family vacations on her birthday in June. We decided to take as many pictures and make memories as often as we could. We would do little videos and make posts so that each year we would have that memory of that particular day. ​ In 2018, the move was official. She was relocated to live with my husband David and I. It's been ups and downs but the organization was being put into place right before our eyes. We connected with other children of Dementia parents and/or loved ones. We connected with other caregivers and often chat about how our loved ones are taken care of but we ourselves are often stressed and burnt out and no one notices. I often ask them if someone could come in and do something for YOU, what would it be? The responses were so small yet, I found myself crying as I read posts. Some women/men asked for 1 day for someone to come bathe their loved ones. Some asked for one day to sleep where they wouldn't have to worry about their loved ones eating, wandering off, needing to be changed, and so forth. Some said they even felt selfish for responding but they wanted a day out to eat alone or with their spouses because they didn't have anyone to come in and watch their loved ones. It was then I knew and saw the bigger picture and was burdened to help others. ​ The Sweetest Memory Organization was officially set up and established in December 2022. It's our desire to support, empower, and connect with others to pay for services for caregivers while they create happy moments for themselves and still be able to cope with the complexity of being a caregiver. With your help, donations, pledges, and connected services we will be able to help others. We want to be able to pay for caregivers to have a spa day and send someone certified to sit with a loved one while they go shopping. We would love to be able to staff and send baskets of love and appreciation to that who don't have time to do a lot of self-care. Will you partner with us monthly and make this organization a success? We aren't funded YET so we will need your support and voices as well by spreading the word to others about what we desire to do. I would love for this organization to be able to bless caregivers all over the world.