"It's like her mind is in a fog that she can't get out of."
A young boy is looking forward to seeing his grandmother again for Thanksgiving, but is scared about visiting her at the nursing home, where she now lives. (The boy's grandmother has Alzheimer's disease.)
Image (C) 2008, Karla Dorman.
I am looking forward to seeing my grandma Carrie again; however, I don't like the fact that she's no longer living at her house.
Grandma Carrie has a disease that made her mind go away. Alzheimer's disease, it's called. (I looked up the spelling in the dictionary.) She used to be able to do a lot of things for herself, but then her memory went bad, and she no longer can take care of herself. Other people have to do it for her now.
It's like her mind is in a fog that she can't get out of. It's like her mind is lost; it's very scary to see, especially to a little boy like me.
We are going to see Grandma Carrie at a nursing home. A nursing home is a place where nurses and doctors can take care of sick old people who can no longer do things by themselves; they need a lot of help. This way, if anyone gets sick, these doctors or nurses can help them and hopefully make them get better.
We are going on Thursday, which is Thanksgiving Day. I'm off from school, so I am allowed to go with Mother and Father to see my grandma. I am looking forward to the turkey and dressing, but I am scared about seeing grandma at the home. What if she doesn't know who I am anymore? What if she says something mean, or what if she gets sick when I am in the room? I am just a little eight year old boy!
I know my parents will be with me, but the grandma I will see at the nursing home will be a lot different than the grandma I knew before her mind went away. I get scared every time I think of it.
I wish there was something I could do to make grandma Carrie's Alzheimer's disease go away, so she can be the same fun grandma who used to take me on walks, buy me things or give me money, or get me extra special presents for my birthday or on Christmas. Now she can't even do that, and I miss it so bad!
Well, I gotta run. Have to eat supper, then go to church. I think I will say a special prayer to God tonight to ask Him to make my grandma Carrie's mind come back because I don't like how she is now!
Dear Karen, unfortunately what you wrote is true and sad. Childen get shoked but not always they show it they keep the sadeness in their heart. But this is life and we have to tell them as it is. Nicely written but sad story. Love Emile
Karen I have seen first hand what Alzheimers and other forms of dementia can do to a person and you painted a very vivid and acurate picture
In Christs Love
Michelle!
Terrible disease, Alzheimer's. Possibly more so for those that once knew and loved the stricken one, for while the "stricken one" is no longer truly there, those that know and love are. Very sad, very well written story, Karen.
Alzheimer's is a terrible, terrible disease ... robs the body and mind, leaving the sufferer a shell of their former selves. Effectively penned sadness, Karen, very well done. Hate to see this happening to this young man's Gramma, especially since it's obvious he loves her greatly.
That is such an awful disease.I pray for all who have a family member who have it. May they receive support and love during this very difficult time. Thanks for writing a story about this Karen.
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