Alzheimers
Do you know someone with Alzheimers Disease? If you do, you understand how I feel. My grandfather was diagnosed with it a little while back. It has made a huge emotional impact on all of my family. The man that loved to carry on conversations for hours, that loved to go out dancing, that loved to build things, and read big thick novels all the time... changed. Now all he does is sit in a Lazy Boy chair all day and read the same page of the Readers Digest he has been reading for a week. Over and over and over.
He has escaped his house numerous times. Once he scared the neighbors in the early hours of the morning by pounding on their doors. He was then escourted by police back home. All the while not knowing what he was doing. He has no recollection of anything recent. If we are lucky, he will talk about the past, and maybe even remember his own birthday. If we are really lucky he might remember one of our names.
I love him with all of my heart. Here is a poem to my papa. He will probably never read it, but it means a lot to me. If you have a loved one with it, you can relate.
D.E.F.
You are such a lovely unselfish person,
Somewhat known now,
But even I remember when you were displayed more smoothly.
And the stories,
The many stories,
Of a life filled with love, adventure, importance, knowledge, and humor.
What a life!
What a wonderful life.
In many ways someone could look at your defect as unfair,
And although it may be,
God has a reason for everything,
Everything.
I have to say that sometimes to myself to feel hopeful.
You have always been a joy in the lives of many,
I know this for a fact.
Especially my own life.
I understand you,
And I know with patience,
I can dig deep with in you,
And find more than what meets the eye with you.
You are one of my best friends,
And maybe you dont remember my name everytime,
But I know 100% that you love me,
Your granddaughter.
Sometimes I feel others forget your feelings,
And converse before you,
About you,
Like you are not even there.
You might not be all there,
But I know you have feelings as I do.
You will never know how much a little joke you say,
Maybe a smile or a slow dance means to me,
But it means the world.
I find a comfort in you that is rare and meaningful,
I love you so much with all of my heart,
Papa.
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Although members of my family have thankfully never had it, my mom used to work in the Alzheimer's ward. It's a sad disease to see anyone with.
What it can do with a person is incredible, to say the least. My mom told me once of one woman who wrote in a diary about her experiences after she was diagnosed. It depicted the times where she would repeatedly do something, even if she knew she had already done it, her brain kept saying she still needed to do it. She knew her mind was deteriorating and that she couldn't do anything about it. I wish her diary could have gotten published, I think it would be good for everyone to see what Alzheimer's does from a victim's point of view.
I wish you the best comfort a stranger can give and hope that your grandfather doesn't suffer too much (I'm sorry if that sounds cold, it's not meant to).
it's painful-- but we have to learn and grow from it and accept it and just love them and everything about them changes but we have to remember the good times and memories
try to get some magazines and read other people's storeis who are going through it
to make it easier for you and your family
i hope your family and your grandfather can make it through this and just accept it and fight it by enjoying living everyday
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
I know how you feel. My great grandmother has alzheimers and alot of the times I begin to feel bad as though it's my fault though I know it isn't my fault for her being that way. Just seeing how she forgets our names every few minutes makes me so sad. The good part with her though is though she mixes names up atleast she has some sort of memory of family members names even if she doesn't connect the name with the person.
About a year ago we started noticing a chnge in my grandfather..He was forgetting things..having problems wth normal everyday tasks..We thought he had alzhiemers...He was too proud to admit something was wrong....It scared us...He went in for knee surgery and the drugs made him worst. Much worst. We finally got him to get checked...Turns ut it wasnt Alzhiemers..It was a brain tumor. They removed a tumor the size of a softball from his brain...He will never be the same person. We are lucky he is still with us, and that he still remembers...He slips sometimes...Asks the same question a lot, forgets little things. I know its not the same, but in a way I understand. Its hard. All you can do is remember the amazing person you knew and try to embrace the new person before you.
~ Be so strong that nothing can disturb your piece of mind~