A Journey With Dementia
In the quiet corners of our hearts, we grapple with the relentless passage of time. It’s a journey we all embark upon, but for some, the road twists into uncharted territory—a road traveled with dementia. It can be long and arduous, or short and traumatic. For my family, it has felt like a lifetime, yet it’s been only 3.5 years since my father’s diagnosis.
Last fall I posted that he was about to pass... and I was on my way home to accept that he would get to rest in peace. That his nightmare and my mothers would be over. But life is unpredictable, and my father recovered. And now, once again, this week, I received the call—the dreaded news that he has taken a turn for the worse. So, I prepare to return home, to face the unknown.
My brother described it as the worst roller coaster he has ever ridden. He is right! Dementia can divide a once-strong family, pulling us in different directions, testing our morals and ethics to their very core.
All I keep saying is I believe in dying with dignity. How can it dignifying to a man that stood tall and proud and was an inspiration to many. He was not perfect by any means but he would not want to live with someone, wiping his backside, lifting him into a chair for the day, turning him because he no longer knows how to. This is NOT the life he would want.
He would be mortified to see himself like this. God's small blessing on this is he doesn't know... he can't speak, can't feed himself, he is like a 80+ year old baby once more. They say... we come into the world, toothless, needing diapers... needing to be fed and not able to speak.........and seemingly we go out in the same way.
For any of you travelling this horrible road ... My prayers and thoughts are with you. As I silently pray that my dad will finally get to go home and rest in peace.
Again this photo will not be put in any groups. Art is my therapy. This was my first attempt at doing this in Alchemy. Only thing added to this was my name to the photo oh and cropping thanks to a new friend giving me good tips.
🎼: How Do I Say Goodbye ~ Dean Lewis ~
So how do I say goodbye
To someone who's been with me for my whole damn life?
You gave me my name and the color of your eyes
I see your face when I look at mine
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?
A Journey With Dementia
In the quiet corners of our hearts, we grapple with the relentless passage of time. It’s a journey we all embark upon, but for some, the road twists into uncharted territory—a road traveled with dementia. It can be long and arduous, or short and traumatic. For my family, it has felt like a lifetime, yet it’s been only 3.5 years since my father’s diagnosis.
Last fall I posted that he was about to pass... and I was on my way home to accept that he would get to rest in peace. That his nightmare and my mothers would be over. But life is unpredictable, and my father recovered. And now, once again, this week, I received the call—the dreaded news that he has taken a turn for the worse. So, I prepare to return home, to face the unknown.
My brother described it as the worst roller coaster he has ever ridden. He is right! Dementia can divide a once-strong family, pulling us in different directions, testing our morals and ethics to their very core.
All I keep saying is I believe in dying with dignity. How can it dignifying to a man that stood tall and proud and was an inspiration to many. He was not perfect by any means but he would not want to live with someone, wiping his backside, lifting him into a chair for the day, turning him because he no longer knows how to. This is NOT the life he would want.
He would be mortified to see himself like this. God's small blessing on this is he doesn't know... he can't speak, can't feed himself, he is like a 80+ year old baby once more. They say... we come into the world, toothless, needing diapers... needing to be fed and not able to speak.........and seemingly we go out in the same way.
For any of you travelling this horrible road ... My prayers and thoughts are with you. As I silently pray that my dad will finally get to go home and rest in peace.
Again this photo will not be put in any groups. Art is my therapy. This was my first attempt at doing this in Alchemy. Only thing added to this was my name to the photo oh and cropping thanks to a new friend giving me good tips.
🎼: How Do I Say Goodbye ~ Dean Lewis ~
So how do I say goodbye
To someone who's been with me for my whole damn life?
You gave me my name and the color of your eyes
I see your face when I look at mine
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?