Good morning everyone,
Gone but never forgotten – that’s the reality of life after losing a loved one. Grief is something I’ve been very open in sharing on the page over the last two years, and as we enter into September, this is something I want to raise more. We’ll discuss why that is in today’s blog 🙏
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Grief is never easy, and when illnesses like Alzheimer’s are involved, the journey can feel even more prolonged and complex. It’s not something that you’re taught to prepare for; however, we all encounter it at some point as we move through our lives.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and I want to do my bit in raising awareness about the disease.
My Nana was my best friend, and she sadly passed away on the 15th January 2023, following nearly a decade of fighting the illness. I can’t speak for how the disease impacts every family; however, what I can do is share the reality of what it was like for me and my family, from my point of view.
Nana taught me so much throughout my life, about kindness, patience, and the value of making people feel heard. Even as Alzheimer’s slowly took pieces of her memory, her warmth and love never faded.
Even though she’s not here in person anymore, she’ll always still be with everyone who met and got to know her – that’s the most important thing.
We can’t control what the cards of fate have in store for us as we move through each day; all that we can do is control how we respond to them. When dealing with things like Alzheimer’s, it’s easy to focus solely on the negatives; however, you can’t let yourself start thinking in that way.
It’s a horrible illness to impact a family, I can relate first-hand there, but it doesn’t get rid of the pages upon pages of memories you have created with the person who is fighting the disease. Together, we can make a real difference – reminding people that they aren’t alone, support is there and we can all help each other through whatever life has in store.
Would I rather my Nana never be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? Of course, but that isn’t in my power to control. I still love my Nana more than words can say, and that’s something that will never change, Alzheimer’s or otherwise. So, this September, let’s encourage these conversations and be the rainbow in somebody else’s cloudy sky.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is to share our stories. This World Alzheimer’s Month, let’s keep raising awareness and remembering the people and families behind the illness.
That’s all for today’s blog. How do you remember or celebrate those who are no longer with us? Would you be interested in seeing more blogs about Alzheimer’s and family more broadly here on the page?
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
James
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