My mum, in a hospital bed.
Grinning at me as I approached.
“Lovely to see you”.
“I remember you coming to work at Hays Wharf”.
“Was that in forty-three, or closer to the end of the war?”
Realisation hits me.
She no longer knows who I am.
No sadder day in my life.
beetleypete 
How incredibly painful for you Pete, I’m sorry you had to experience that, how old were you? C
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It was not long before she died, March 2012. I was 59, but it was still very upsetting.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The only good thing is that the disease leaves doesn’t inflict pain and the person is happy, albeit ‘living’ in the past.
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My mum was affected by bleeds in her brain, Jennie. She never had Dementia, though the symptoms were often remarkably similar.
Best wishes, Pete.
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❤️
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When that happens, it involves a complete change in the lives of those involved. Sad situation, especially these days. Michael
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A very bad day for me, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am sorry for this, Pete! xx
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It’s devastating when that happens, Pete
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It affected me very badly at the time, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, it would. My mother would know who I was most of the time, then would suddenly think I was one of her aunts or someone, and then a bit later switch back
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My heart goes out to you. Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks, Theo. A day that will never be forgotten.
Best wishes, Pete.
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even when she explained…*
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I can’t even imagine being there. My mother had to go through the pain when her father (my grandfather) had dementia for many of his last years. He did not recognise any if his children except one who lived with him. And he had short term memory loss too. so even when he explained, he would promptly forget.
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My mum’s memory problems were caused by physical illness, but when she didn’t remember who I was, that really upset me, Shaily.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m sorry that you had to go through that. I hope nobody ever has to.
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“Oh, yes! Hays Wharf! Those were the days!”
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My mum worked there dring the war, in the offices of an importer. It is on the river, almost next to London Bridge. Now it is a gentrified shopping complex.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Very sad to go through. Was the same here with Poor John’s Aunt Esther who lived with us for eight years then went into aged care with dementia.
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My mum’s confusiom was caused by ‘mini-strokes’. She didn’t have Dementia, but her symptoms were very similar.
Best wishes, Pete.
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so sad when own mother doesn’t realize you hope she gets well soon
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She actually died soon after this, back in 2012. But you were not to know that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a horrible feeling that would be chuq
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It was, chuq. It really upset me even more than seeing her so ill.
Best wishes, Pete.
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This is so sad, Pete.
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It really shook me at the time, Robbie. And I obviously have never forgotten that afternoon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s terrible for sure to see our parents deteriorate. My mum recognised me right up until the end though, even though she was no longer quite ‘with it’.
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After my mum was admitted that last time, I was never sure if she recognised me again. Sometimes she thought I was her brother, and he had been dead for years.
Best wishes, Pete.
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My mother got very muddled at the end, but in a way it was a comfort. I was in NY waiting for a summons to a family meeting at which it would be decided what facility my mother would go to. (She had asked me often to promise I would never send her to a home…one cannot make such promises, sadly, in my income bracket) My brother was in England visiting and went to see Mum in the afternoon. She said brightly “Carolyn was here this morning!” I never did see her again, but it was a comfort that she thought I did. She died about a week later. My brother had just gone back to Africa and had to turn around and come back. Not easy having aging parents far away.
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Very difficult when they are in another country, I’m sure. I only lived 9 miles away from my mum, and that was hard enough at times.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m so sorry Pete. My dad didn’t have Alzheimer’s, but the brain tumor destroyed his mind and he didn’t recognize anyone either by the time he passed.
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My mum’s problem wasn’t Alzheimer’s either. She had numerous small bleeds on the brain that caused bouts of confusion, and occasional hysteria. So upsetting to see.
Best wishes, Pete.
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My mum didn’t have alzheimers but the last 2 weeks of her life the cancer sent her doolally, not recognising us, and hallucinating sheep of all things. It was hard to see her like that.
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My mum’s confusion was caused by small brain bleeds. It used to come and go, but that was the first time she didn’t know who I was.
Best wishes, Pete.
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So sad Pete xx
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It was a very sad day, Lorraine.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I can imagine Pete XX
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Heartbreaking. I just watched Anthony Hopkins in “Father”. The cycle of life, the end of it, why must it be so sad for many? For the family? IDK.
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I’m looking forward to seeing that. From the previews, it looks like an excellent drama.
My mum was spared long-term dementia, but had the same symptoms caused by numerous brain bleeds. That afternoon in the hospital broke my heart.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I can’t “like” your comment. Only say how sorry I am you were in pain.
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I sometimes wonder if I ever truly recovered from that day.
Wine helps, but that’s no excuse. xx
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There are days that are tatooed in our hearts.
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