jmgoyder

wings and things

Jul 5

3. Existence

by jmgoyder

One of the most poignant conversations I’ve ever had with Anthony was a few months ago. From time to time he comes out with the most profound observations and I scribble these into my notebook because I know that later – sometimes much later – I won’t believe that he really said that.

Me: Is it okay if I write a book about you, Ants?

Anthony: No.

Me: Why?

Anthony: Because I don’t exist.

Was this dreadful statement about not existing a wisecrack, a joke, sarcasm? Anthony always had the most incredible attitude to life, and still has! He has no idea that he has Dementia and, now that he is virtually bed-ridden, I just tell him it’s the Parkinson’s Disease that makes him so tired.

Way back when we weren’t even married, there was an enormous spider in the kitchen which I rather shriekingly killed with a can of mortein. Later on, Anthony came in from milking the cows and I told him about my adventure. He looked at me, grief-stricken. “That was my pet spider, Jules!”

I was devastated! How could this man possibly ever love me when I had killed his pet spider? How could I make amends? Could I find another spider that looked like the one I’d killed? Did pet shops sell spiders?

We had a rather subdued meal until finally, unable to contain his mirth, Anthony guffawed and admitted that he was just joking. I am yet to experience a ‘phew’ quite like that!

And what is the point of this chapter? Well, maybe – just maybe, Anthony is just fooling around with us. Maybe he doesn’t have Dementia after all. Maybe these recent years have been a strange nightmare.

Me: Is it okay with you if I write a book about that spider, Ants?

Anthony: Of course.

 

Alzheimer's Disease; Dementia Animal Australia blogging death and dying dementia depression Embarrassing moments Happiness Uncategorized

3 Comments »
Jul 4

2. “Where is Mum?”

by jmgoyder

Anthony asks this question at least once a week and, because it distresses him, I have to be really careful with my answers. If I say she is fine and at home on the farm, he worries that she is alone and I have to reassure him that Ming is there with her.

This wonderful woman, Anthony’s mother, fondly called ‘Gar’ by family and friends, died over two decades ago. I adored her, was frightened of her (she was a true matriarch), and I was with her when she died at the age of  86. Her last words to me were, Will you look after Anthony? And, buzzing with all of the feelings that come with first love, I said yes.

I was a teenager, just 18, and Anthony was 41. My adoration of him was embarrassingly obvious to both Gar and Anthony. Gar encouraged it in a rather mischievous way but Anthony spurned my clumsy adolescent love-sick self, out of respect for my youth. It would be many years before he and I graduated from platonic to romantic.

Finally, at the age of 56, this workaholic, dairy farmer, best friend, bachelor, proposed. By then, I had steeled myself to imagine life without Anthony, but I had this absolute certainty about our son-to-be. And I was right. But I didn’t know that then.

Anthony’s proposal of marriage was almost too late as I was beginning a tentative relationship with another man – a kinder, younger, more generous man.  I was in my early 30s by then and thought it best to finally move on and away from Anthony.

Then, whammo, Anthony just came to his senses. It was so sudden and such a shock to hear him crying on the phone and declaring love. I had never known him to express such emotion so I was flabbergasted and cynical. But I got over that and said yes to the marriage proposal.

Gar had always encouraged it, after all!

Anthony: Where is Mum?

Me: She’s in the kitchen, making breakfast, Ants.

 

Alzheimer's Disease; Dementia Australia blogging death and dying dementia Uncategorized

10 Comments »
Jul 4

1. Sixteen Kilometres

by jmgoyder

I have been wanting to write a book about our experience of Dementia for some time so this is a chapter draft. I am numbering them so I can keep track. Any feedback appreciated.

SIXTEEN KILOMETRES

When Anthony says he has run sixteen kilometres, fixed all of the fences around the farm, and found the rogue mouse, do I correct him? Of course not!
Yes, Anthony used to love running around the paddocks (for the sheer joy of running). He also used to love the fiddly aspects of fixing fences, and I vividly remember his hilarious determination to eliminate a mouse, using a fly swat, in the hallway of our house.
So, when Anthony talks about these things as if they have just happened, I go with the flow by acknowledging these accomplishments, hallucinations and memories. I only ever contradict Anthony, if what he is seeing, or sensing, is distressing to him (more about this later).
Anthony: There he is in the corner, Jules.
Me: Who?
Anthony: The baby.
Me: You mean Ming?
Anthony: That furry one there [pointing to the corner of the room where is nothing]
Me: So is it a dog or a child?
Anthony: A bit of both.
Anthony sometimes forgets that Ming (our 23-year-old son) is all grown up, so he often ‘sees’ Ming as a baby or toddler. This hallucinatory thing mostly happens when I am visiting by myself. When Ming visits by himself, Anthony often misrecognises Ming as a cousin, uncle, even a deceased relative. I had already prepared Ming for the inevitability of Anthony not recognising us so, when it happens to Ming, it’s okay.
To some people, the idea of not being recognised by a spouse or parent or friend is the last straw. It’s quite common for relatives and friends to stop visiting a loved one, because they aren’t recognised. So what! As long as you recognise him or her, then surely that’s what counts. People with Dementia don’t intentionally hurt the people they used to know so well; they don’t intentionally misrecognise.
Anthony: Where’s Julie?
Me: I am Julie.
Anthony: Oh, that’s right.
Maybe it’s the constancy of my visits, maybe it’s because, despite Anthony’s Dementia, he and I still adore each other, maybe it’s just luck, but Anthony almost always knows who I am. I am so glad that I’ve been transcribing our dialogues for so long because, even though these conversations are mostly short and sweet, they are like gold to me.
Not long ago, I entered his nursing home room after days of not being able to visit because I was sick. It was the best welcome I have ever received (from anyone):
Anthony: Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I was just trying to conjure you.
Me: Oh, Ants – I’ve been so sick!
Anthony: Yes, I know. The kids told me.
Me: Are you okay?
Anthony: I’ve been running.
Me: Again? No wonder you look so tired! How far did you run this time?
Anthony: Sixteen kilometres.

 

Alzheimer's Disease; Dementia Animal Anthony blogging dementia depression Embarrassing moments Family Friendship Grief hallucinations Happiness Humour joy lonely LOVE STORY Marriage My published writing nursing homes Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease dementia PURPOSE

12 Comments »
Newer Entries »
Blog at WordPress.com.