DALLAS — Being in a military family, Cheryl Wright has always been accustomed to moving.
The youngest daughter of seven children Cheryl has stayed in places like London, Germany and Africa. She's also lived in multiple states in the U.S.. But her latest move just might be her most unique.
"When I say I'm [living in] assisted living, obviously I'm here with my mom," said Wright, laughing. "I think this is kinda like the Golden Girls."
Wright decided in December to move in with her 90-year-old mother, Elisabeth, into the Preston of the Park Cities, a senior living community. The one-bedroom apartment has a high-top balcony view that looks over Dallas and all the flights coming in an out of Love Field. The balcony is also where the two listen to music and share a dance every day.
Last October, Elisabeth had fallen and it resulted in a partial hip replacement. Wright said she didn't want to leave her mother alone and that the decision to move in happened very quickly. She felt that staying close would ensure the best possible care for her mother, who was born in Germany. Ever since she moved in, she said her mother has been a lot happier. And the anxiety and sadness that normally came with leaving her mom and the facility does not happen anymore.
"She's always given a lot of love, I'm just returning that love," Wright said.
Wright said she is just following the mantra that her military father lived by: rising to the occasion. She packed a lot of her own things into storage but kept her main residence. She takes her mother to as many activities as possible, like Tai Chi, at the Preston of the Park Cities.
"She emphasizes that caring for her mother here doesn't feel like a burden; instead, it's an opportunity for quality time filled with enriching activities," read a statement from the Preston. "From morning fitness classes and pet therapy sessions to outings at private malls and museums, Cheryl and her mother are inseparable companions, sharing every moment together,"
Cheryl wants to give credit to her siblings who have made this plan to move-in possible. She says she'll stay as long as she can to enjoy moments with her mother.