Story
I’m starting to forget things and I’m struggling to recall important memories. It’s been that bad some days that I can’t remember my family’s names, and my brain has made me believe there are people in my house and at the door trying to get in. I’ve had to move into a home with around the clock care and most days, I don’t really understand what is happening around me. I often feel scared and confused. I’m losing fine motor skills and this, along with my memory deteriorating, means I don’t have any hobbies anymore. Im losing memories of my amazing life and family, which is heartbreaking for both me and my loved ones.
As I am a 31 year old girl, you’re probably horrified to read this, shocked my life can be changing so much. If I tell you this is about my 85 year old granny, it feels a little less sad and shocking now doesn’t it? It may feel more ‘ahhh what a shame, but it’s one of those things.’
When suffering comes from Alzheimer’s, we sometimes accept it as inevitable and often see it as something normal that can happen with age. But there is nothing normal about watching a parent, grandparent, partner, or friend slowly lose pieces of themselves. And we need to remember this.
It won’t always be our grandparents. One day it may be our parents, it could be us, and even more horrific to think, this could be our children?! I’m petrified of losing the ability to remember this amazing life I’ve built for myself, and the thought of my child or future children being in the situation my granny is absolutely breaks my heart.
Anyone that met my granny pre-Alzheimer’s would know, she was literally a ray of sunshine. Happy, smiley, full of joy and loved life to pieces. She’d say yes to anything and was happiest with music, laughter and fun around her. She was devoted to her family and her husband, and she really was an all encompassing embodiment of love, and she had no plans of slowing down regardless of age. Alzheimer’s has taken years of her life she should’ve been really enjoying.
In the UK, around 1 in 6 people over 80 are living with dementia. As our population ages, more families will face this reality. It’s too late for my lovely granny, and maybe even the next generation, but one day with our fundraising it might not be too late for others.
I always say I train hard and do hard things because one day I won’t be able to. I’m running Manchester Half Marathon to fundraise in the hope that one day, we don’t have to consider a world where we won’t even remember the things we’ve done. We can sit in our homes and reminisce the amazing memories we’ve made, with no failing memory, no fear, and no years of our lives wasted because of Alzheimer’s.