David wrote this poem about his mum’s journey with Frontotemporal Dementia and Aphasia, and the impact this has on her and those supporting her. Telling us: “I’m sure it’s a conversation we all would love to have if we could if we could see the disease.”
Dear Dementia
Dear Dementia
I wish you would go away
You take more of our beautiful mum
Each and every day.
Although we can't see you
We all know you are there
The damage you are causing
No Doctor can repair.
There's no medicine to stop you
Or even slow you down.
You're aggressive and way too fast
All our mum now remembers
Are snippets of her past.
So Dementia I beg,
Please stop for just a while
And let us have this time with her,
To make more memories And to see her smile.
You're taking her away from us
It's so cruel and just not fair
She's started seeing things today
Things, that are not even there.
We will stand beside her though
Holding her hand the whole way
We will remember for her
When you steal her memories away.
One thing you can't take though
Is the love that we all share
You underestimate us all dementia
And how much we really truly care.
One day Dementia your time on earth will come
We will find a cure and forever you will be gone.
A world free of your suffering
No more of this pain
Until that day though Dementia
By our mum's side we will all remain.
By David Diehl
