Just had my essay on the journey through my father's Alzheimer's published. Please read...

DarrenKeith

I lost my father after an incredibly long battle with Alzheimer's about 15 months ago.

Wanting to help others finding themselves in the same horrible and overwhelming situation, I wrote an essay about the experience, which was just published.

I wrote it not only to tell my story, but to raise awareness, provide insight and resources, draw attention to the signs and red flags of Alzheimer's (there are many people at this very moment who have a family member with dementia and do not even realize it), and to offer a glimpse into how Alzheimer’s can affect not only those afflicted with the disease, but — almost more importantly — their loved ones, because it is they who bear the deepest burden and suffering. 

Above all, I want to help people navigate the devastating journey of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. 

Here is a quote from Greg O'Brien, author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's

"Excellent piece, Darren. Excellent! Hoping as many people as possible will read your words. You have great insight, a gift the world needs to hear."

I hope you will read the essay and would be eternally grateful if you can share it in any capacity possible, so it can help the countless people out there affected by this horrific disease. 

Thank you and all the best,

Darren Keith

The essay:

https://medium.com/@contactdarrenkeith/living-with-alzheimers-efccf45e410b

ButterflyWings

Darren- Brilliant essay. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, experiences, and insights. Well done. 

I will be reading this again, and sharing it with others. It is a keeper in my view, to be added to the shortlist of links I feel may be helpful to newcomers, as well as at new stages for those of us who have been living with a LOs dementia for a while. 

So many great insights. Your blowtorch analogy. Yes! And such truth about how the healthcare industry needs to do a better job of educating people upon diagnosis at the very least. And if the Alz Assoc does just one significant new thing this year, elevating “Financial Issues” to its red flag “early warning signs” list could save families like mine. That knowledge would have left money in our (*newly & secretly) bankrupted reality, for the necessary longterm care options that I can’t even envision yet as I desperately struggle just to help us survive...digging out of the deep hole my unsupervised DH dug for us in the early dementia years before we knew what was happening. 

Thank you for your considerable efforts on this excellent essay. And thank you so much for sharing your painful and healing moments alike. This is so well written, contains very helpful information, and is a real tribute to your dad as well. Something profound and lasting to come from his struggle with cruel dementia. Thanks to you. Just wow. All the best to you and your family.

Just Ro

Excellent, excellent essay, Darren.  Thank you.

mommyandme (m&m)

Thank you for writing/sharing about your experiences and heartaches with this disease!

Congrats on your publication.  Your mom must be proud…and your dad. 

So sorry for the loss of your father.  

LicketyGlitz

Congratulations, Darren! It is such a tough road and I hope you found some healing in writing about it. That's has been a key survival mechanism for me.

Good on you sir, and here's to your father who hopefully got to see how devoted and wonderful you were to him during his illness once he passed. I'm sure he is incredibly proud of you.

Kitchen_Cat

Thank U!

Beachfan

Dear Darren,

You have crafted a very thorough, comprehensive, birds' eye view of Alzheimers from a lay person's perspective.  I printed out your essay and filed it with my other lay person's "bible": Understanding the Dementia Experience by Jennifer Ghent Fuller.   

My husband of 53 years is in a Memory Care Facility since November, having been initially diagnosed in 2010 and progressing slowly but steadily until now.  He no longer knows me, the kids, the grandkids, where he is or why he's there.  I cared for him 24/7/365 until my kids ganged up on me and told me they understood that he was "gone" but they wanted their mom and MiMi back.  We visit; there is no reaction or interaction.  I miss him and love him with all my heart, but he is well cared for, content and safe; I am rediscovering the grandkids and trying to make up for lost time.  No regrets, just terminal sadness.  Thank you for your insight.  

Bob G

Thank you so much for writing this essay. I cried while I read it and will undoubtedly cry when I read it again. 

To watch a loved one lose their mind , body and dignity is truly , as you said , gut wrenching and horrific. I could go on and on but I don’t have to. You’ve already said it for me.