Unspoken poetry.

4: Dementia

Being found out that a loved one was diagnosed with dementia didn't effect me. What effected me was that slowly ,so slowly she forgot who I was.

Would you like to know what that feels like? Well it's simply hell because 15 years of memories are slowly leaving her. Memories of baking together, going on walks, laughing and having fun are going and there is no way to get them back.

Home is a place we should all feel comfort in. However she doesn't know her house is hers. She doesn't feel safe. She's scared. She's not eating because the food isn't hers.

Family should be something we should all have and rely on. But how can she when she doesn't even know who we are or how we are connected.

Freedom is something everyone needs. But she is housebound for people are scared she might get lost and not come back. She can't go anywhere without someone at her side.

And the worst part is she knows this is happening. It's a common misconception that dementia leads to people not knowing what's happening around them. But she does know many people don't think she does but it's visible by the sadness in her eyes.

If I could do one thing with my life I would find a cure to dementia. Because unlike many illnesses dementia doesn't cause death; it causes a decrease in quality of life and I personally think that's worse.

Because imagine what it's like to forget what you're doing and who the people you love are. Imagine forgetting that this is the house you have lives in for 50 years. Imagine forgetting who you were.