My Wife, Dementia, and a Silent Christmas
My wife, always the model mother and grandmother, used to host these epic family feasts. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays - our house was a constant whirlwind of delicious food, personal touches like overflowing Easter baskets, and thoughtful gifts for everyone. She poured her heart into making each celebration special.
But dementia has changed everything....Now, on a good day she's a stage 5, on a bad day, a 6. Those festive extravaganzas are a distant memory, and I'm her 24/7 caregiver. We manage, but I'm bracing for a challenging year ahead.
My main gripe?.... Not a single phone call or text wishing my wife a Merry Christmas from our children and grandchildren or friends. The whole family, except us, spent Christmas with our son just a street away.
I've read enough about dementia to know the "Cavalry" doesn't always ride in. But still, good grief! This silence stings.
Maybe I'm just rambling,...grieving,..clinging to the past. But this harsh reality is so different.
Thanks for listening.