After a drawn-out battle with dementia, my dear Auntie Barbara passed away today. I’ll fill in the rest of this post at a later date, when I feel more able.
“You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.” – Josh Shipp
Barbara had Alzheimer’s disease the most common form of dementia, which marked by memory loss, disorientation, and personality changes. We were so focussed on Auntie Babs that we didn’t notice at first the changes in her husband Keith, who she leaves behind, as she deteriorated and eventually passed. Keith went downhill very quickly after Babs and was diagnosed with vascular dementia, another prevalent type, which results from reduced blood flow to the brain due to vascular issues.
These one-two blows have been hard on the whole family, especially my mum and dad, who adored Keith and Barbara, and had such plans for their retirement with them, all growing old together.
Mostly, though, it is about Keith, who we are losing, in the time he has left with us, As well as Steve, Richard and Karen, their children, and their respective families.
Struggling to Make Sense
I can only hope that one day, and soon, we will be talking about a cure for dementia. Although too late for Auntie Barb, that day can’t come quick enough. For the moment, those of us left behind have another set of scars to join the many we accumulate through life as we experience loss.
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