Dissappearing before my eyes...

She was a shadow of her former self

I saw her deterioration start slowly at

first, from forgetting the odd name

of someone talking to her.

To the odd word to describe something

properly.

I would just kindly and sweetly

reminder her of who it was.

And the correct word casually and

she would smile.

 Others times of late. I would go visit her

and she would be quiet and reserved.

Just sitting there in a comfortable chair.

Others times she would get upset and cry.

Feeling frustrated and confused but not

quite understand what was going on.

A lump would appear in my throat and a

tear in the corner of my eyes.

I loved her so much. It actually hurt to see

her this way.

But the rare and I mean rare odd moments

of clarity did appear.

 And those where blessings to cherish

and hold onto closely.

Reviews

[Phill Oz O'fee]

This is a very poignant piece – I can see a parallel with the issues poetically highlighted in your write and an ongoing episode unfolding with a friend of mine! Everyone with dementia is different. The way dementia affects people in the early stages will depend on the type of dementia they have. Other factors like their personality, environment and the support they receive will also affect their experience of dementia.
This is a moving share ... :-)

[Onlyme]

That is so very true Phill, thanks for stating that to me and others, Bless you Dawn.

[andrew mitchell]

Dementia is very sad and because we live longer, there appears to be more cases. MS is another baddie.

[Onlyme]

That is so very true Andrew, I do agree MS is another bad one also. thanks Dawn.

[Crowley]

It's so sad the way it goes down. I tried to convince some in my family who would get frustrated that they had to play in the sandbox that she was playing in. They insisted on trying to force reality on her, I ended up being the only one she would trust whether she knew me or not. Great piece Dawn. So sad...

[Onlyme]

Thanks Crowley, I do agree, we can't push reality on them. We have to take it at their speed.

[angel]

Sweetly sorrowful; something I do think of sometimes. I have seen this thief take the memories from the head of a loved one, but most of my experience with it is from when I worked in the Rockville Nursing home, back in the 70s. People who asked over and over when their spouse, long dead, would be coming to visit, alternately sad and angry because they are not there.
Such patience is needed to deal with it!
Thank you for bringing this issue up for consideration.

[Onlyme]

Thank angel for your thoughts. Dawn.

[Akankshya Mishra]

Touching. If this particular piece of yours is inspired from your self life journey , then I am just startled with the amount of tolerance and perception you would've gone through ; before putting the sadness into words.

[Onlyme]

Thanks Akankshya, I was watching a documentary about terminal ill people choosing to die in the comfort of their own homes. It was heartbreaking. And inspired this poem.

[Akankshya Mishra]

I could see the reflection. Well put ..

[Onlyme]

thanks sweetheart.