for people with dementia and their loved ones ...

no matter the preparation

for the day ...

excruciating emotional pain prevails

leaving a loved one behind ...

is anything but a selfish act ...

whether it's a parent, a close relative

or the love of your life ...

it hurts in an unexplainable way

because the decline is clearer

the end transpires as nearer ...

every day is a new beginning

every day is a new goodbye

every day is a new challenge

no one knows how it will pass by

certain days there are smiles

most others there are painful tears

everyday there's always hope that

for some minutes the fog just clears

and when it does

it's such a relief

unexplainable joy and then again

it just has to leave ...

Bonus Note: This picture was taken in Greece last September. This was the last trip I did with dad. Unfortunately dementia signs were showing heavily but I wanted to take him to the place he hadn't been before. He seems to have a fascination for leaves just like myself and all of a sudden, he picked up this unusual leave and described it as an elephant and created one of his stories. Special memories like this will never fade away despite the many times I lost my patience during the trip. Nevertheless, more awareness about DEMENTIA is crucial. It makes the person going through it feel lost, insecure and disoriented. At times, the patient starts losing the ability to express himself. On the other hand, it's immensely cruel for the relatives to see a loved one fading out in this way.