Dementia …
Who am I?
Like a terrifying tornado ripping through a beautiful village destroying homes and communities –
everything in its pathway …
Dementia is much the same.
A storm of pure destruction,
killing the human memory bit by bit.
The short-term memory slowly but surely fades ….
What did I have for dinner? What’s your name again? Where did I leave my coat?
Slowly but surely this wretched disease begins to affect daily routines, hygiene and basic everyday tasks…
The long-term memory can remain intact, past memories come flooding back;
‘I want to see my Mother and Father’ …
Childhood memories so real, so clear –
yet the here and now vanishes with no trace.
Ultimately engulfing every part of the brain.
So cruel, so painful, to lose your mind, your speech and your dignity.
This vile disease can take away self-control, even change personalities;
even leading to aggressive behaviour, so out of character.
The sheer confusion and desperation for both the dementia sufferer and their families is so sad to see.
Like the tornado appearing from nowhere; dementia floods the brain and drains out every part of the soul.
The family need time to grieve; the family member taken so violently by this dementia storm.
The eyes can still see, the ears can still hear, the legs and arms can still move – yet the brain signals have been violently cut.
To regress to being like a very young child, needing constant care and help 24/7.
Dear God above please cure this debilitating disease.
The course of the storm has changed, with no understanding of why it destroys the memories of younger people now too.
One in four of us will now be struck down by the tornado named ‘dementia’.
We need a cure, we need it now …
Hannah Foster, January 2018
