Walking For My Grandparents
Over the last year, my family and I have watched, hopeless and grieving, as my once cheerful, lively, and loving grandparents, have been made shells of themselves from this disease.
Dementia truly is devestating, dehumanising a person until they are far from the one they used to be, until they are vulnerable in every way. Perhaps the worst part is that, confused and disoriented, they often don't even realise it.
If I were to describe the woman my nan was before this disease, I would only need to use one word - light. My nan was a light, a brightness, in every room. A pure and loving presence in every relationship. Her kindness was unmatched. Her energy was contagious. Yet now, as she sadly succumbs to Alzheimers, most days she struggles to find her voice again.
Now, she cannot move, bed bound and immobile as her body has betrayed her. With each new degeneration of her brain, she loses her ability to speak, and even recognise her family members. We feed her by hand, and have no choice but to strip her of her dignity as we ensure she remains clean, and as healthy as possible.
Though throughout it all, she remains kind, a true testament to her nature that I hope her Alzheimers will never take from her.
My grandad, who lives with her, is unfortunately struggling with his own vascular dementia, which although slow progressing, has began to effect his understanding of this devestating situation. He often rolls his eyes, makes cruel remarks, or simply ignores my nan and her now complexed needs. Perhaps his dementia has impaired his ability to understand and acknowledge the gravity of her disease. Perhaps his own cognitive suffering leaves no space to take on another's.
All I know, is that my grandad is not, and has never been, a cruel man. There is not one unkind bone in his body, and yet, this disease has taken from him both his ability to care for himself, and the woman he loves the most.
I am walking in Sutton Park on the 4th of July, to honour the people my grandparents once were, to fight for life altering research to end this disease, and most importantly, to give a middle finger to dementia, and all it has taken from us.
Please consider donating to my fundraiser - Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity, dedicated to finding a cure.
Research is our only chance of stopping dementia in its tracks and offering hope to the many families affected.
Your donation will fuel cutting-edge research that could uncover new life-changing treatments, bringing us closer to a cure.
Thank you, on behalf of myself, my grandparents, and all who have suffered from this disease.
- Alexandra
