On Christmas Eve morning, at about 10:30, Brian said he was going for a drive. I said that his son and family were coming for lunch at 11:00 and asked that he not go. To no avail, Brian didn’t want to have anything to do with Christmas and he wanted to leave.
He was gone for 27 hours.
Nothing prepared me for this. NOTHING. So now what? Clearly, Brian was now on the Dementia pathway. But also I’m on the pathway of a pain that doesn’t heal and crying in the shower doesn’t relieve.
Our last bike ride was only eight months ago and today he doesn’t know who I am; the rapid progression is devastating. Dementia isn’t logical – that part of his mind is gone – it is emotional. The only thing that matters is the feeling of care, calm, and presence – minimizing frustration.
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