Living With Dementia

 How many times have you gentle reader, walked into a room in your house and forgot what you were wanting to do there?

Try walking into your bedroom and not knowing what room you are even in.

How many times gentle reader, have you looked high and low for your car keys, and found them right where you left them?

Try having your keys in your hand and not knowing what they are for.

How many times gentle reader, did you go to the store and forgot to get the one thing you went there for?

Try going to the store with a detailed list, and still not getting what's on it. And in the chaos lose the list, forget you left your wallet at home, and all the time worrying you won't find you way out of the store, let alone to you car parked outside. 

How many times have you said to yourself, "This sure seems like Monday." Just like today does, with the fourth being yesterday.

Try not know what day it is, everyday. Not having a clue, a reference to go by. Having to ask three, four times "What day is this?" And that's before you wife walks out the door to work.

How many times have you thought, "I'd better eat, I'm hungry?"

Try going all day long and and the only way you know you didn't eat, is because your wife see's not dirty dishes. Or did you?

How many times are you running late for an appointment, the one your remembered when you first woke up?

Try not only forgetting an appointment, but have no idea what the appointment is about when you are reminded. 

How many times...when you're a dementia patient they are not even worth keeping track of. First of all in the end it will never matter, and second of all, you can't. 

You don't have the ability to remember things. Important things. Unimportant things. Doesn't matter. 

The first thing that goes is your short term memory. Then if by any chance you can handle this, or somehow muddle through the day, it won't be long till this disease will take your long term memory as well.

Not all at once. Little by little. But be assured, what you are able to retain now, this is the best it will ever be. Today could very well be the best day I will ever have.

How many times you ever had to think of that??? Never, I hope...