Monday 1 June 2015

Turning 94


Good morning friends welcome to my Monday, this morning I am going to share a little about my nanna who turned 94 yesterday. She was born in Wauchope and was one of 13 children, she was married twice and has outlive both her husbands, nan had 4 children, 3 of which are still alive and 2 of which still visit her weekly more or less there are weeks we may give it a miss but that isn't often.

My nan has Alzheimer's she started to show the first signs of dementia way back in 1998 but wasn't diagnosed with Alzheimer's till around 2000 I think, when she started to repeat herself and ask the same question over and over some family members and so called friends stopped seeing and visiting her because they found her an embarrassment. This I can tell you really pisses me off, and I get annoyed when I hears people say they want to remember her how she was not how she is, I do remember her how she was and yes I see how she is but when she has thought flickers of memory which you can see in her eyes it really makes me feel good.

Like yesterday she had a few of those moments, when I went to say hi to her and give her a kiss, I say “hi nan it's Jo-Anne, happy birthday” as clear as anything she replies with “where’s Tim” I wasn't the only one to hear her say that so did my sister Sandra, I called Tim over to see her it was a wonderful moment. Later when my daughter Natasha turned up she went to give nan a kiss and said it's Natasha nan made no sign she knew who Natasha was so I said it again with more Russian sound and nan's eyes lit up she knew who I meant, as nanna always said Natasha in the Russian way. Not only did her eyes light up but she said I know and love you, Tasha spoke to nan for a bit with me there to listen and translate what she said you have to listen carefully as nan only speaks in a whisper and will only say a couple of words at a time.

This is a photo of all who turned up to see nanna for her birthday, my daughters Kathy-Lee and Jessica didn't go, Kathy-Lee is one of those who can't see the point as nanna isn't “there” and she was going to see Michael's parents, Jessica didn't go because nursing homes smell like “death and old people” which this one does not I might add.

Tim didn't want to go but I said I wanted him to go it was important to me and I have gone to a number of things over the years that I would have preferred not to have gone to but because I love him I went, so he could go for me, however, once we got there he seemed to have a good time.

He did complain that no one talked to him well except for my dad and brother, I told him we are a loud and boisterous family and he has become pretty withdrawn and he should know what we are like now so speak up and if you have something to say, say it.

Most people with Alzheimer's only live around 8-10 after being diagnosed so nan is doing well as it is about 15 years since she was diagnosed and 17 years since the first signs of dementia appeared.

I would like to thank those who sent cards for nanna, didn't get many but that is because my family are useless at times.


16 comments:

  1. Looks like it was a great birthday! :)

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  2. Dearest Jo-Anne,
    You say it like it is and yes, for those few precious moments, it sitll is worth it!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  3. Wonderful post Jo-Anne, Glad you speak your mind, I would rather than than pussy footing around.

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    1. It took me a long time to get to the point of speaking my mind

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  4. Happy Birthday to Nanna. I think it's wonderful that she had some lucid moments and lots of love surrounding her on her 94th. We should all be so lucky.

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    1. Yes it would be nice to be so lucky I wonder who will be around when I turn 94 and yes I will I have every intention of living to be 100.............

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  5. I hope she enjoyed as much as possible.

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    1. She was quiet chatty in her own way and seemed to like having people around her

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  6. I hope and pray she got mine. xoxox

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  7. And it was a beautiful tribute, Jo-Anne. You are a loving family woman. I am too so I love to see it in others.

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  8. Dementia is a brutal condition. My mom suffered for a few years before she died.
    I'm glad you had a good visit. Happy birthday Nanna.
    R

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  9. How wonderful that you organised this for your Grandmother, Jo-Anne. And how precious that she had a moment of two of lucidity, validating your firm conviction that this was an important landmark in her life that, despite her Alzheimer's, needed to be celebrated with her. Such a loving, caring, thoughtful Granddaughter you are to her!

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