Alzheimer Woman

[Delta40]

Momma wants to go home.
There's a yellow sweater on the line.
I stood at a train station.
Waiting,
just waiting.
Gotta pee now.
Have you seen George?
Come on. Take me home.
This boy said to me,
Sid! Sid! Sid!
He touched me.
Take me will you?
I'm gonna be married one day.
Dad gave that to me.
My work here isn't done
and I told him.
Let's go.
Home.
My fanny hurts.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Sad, sad, but a compelling read.

[Charles Darnay]

This is incredible. And yes, very sad.

[AuntShecky]

This one literally speaks for another, by adopting quite an authentic-sounding voice. The lines really do sound like a person suffering with this condition.

[Jerrybaldy]

you could have sat notebook in hand during visiting time?

[Delta40]

Madge is a tough old bird.

[aliengirl]

This one reminds me of a distant relative who suffered from this condition. You have reflected the way they speak authentically and like all works reflecting reality it's sad, very sad.

[Delta40]

She's slipping into a coma now.

[aliengirl]

She's slipping into a coma now.

Is this poem about someone whom you know or are related to?

[Delta40]

My best friend's Mum.

[Haunted]

so sorry Delta.

[Delta40]

so sorry Delta.

Thanks Haunted. My friend has kept a bedside vigil at the nursing home for two nights now. Her Mum is a remarkable soul and a very stubborn one too! (she is also very dearly loved)

[Haunted]

You think she'll come out of it?

My aunt has dementia.......she still knows me though

[Delta40]

Definitely not. Four years after diagnosis, Madge is in the final stages of alzheimer's. Eventually they starve to death because they no longer swallow. Madge has developed pnuemonia and has not eaten since last week. There is no logic to bringing her out of a coma if all she will do is starve and suffer more physical pain so under the circumstances the best thing to do is make her as comfortable as possible.

* Madge passed away at 6pm.

[aliengirl]

Definitely not. Four years after diagnosis, Madge is in the final stages of alzheimer's. Eventually they starve to death because they no longer swallow. Madge has developed pnuemonia and has not eaten since last week. There is no logic to bringing her out of a coma if all she will do is starve and suffer more physical pain so under the circumstances the best thing to do is make her as comfortable as possible.

* Madge passed away at 6pm.

I'm sorry Delta. The only consolation is that she was well-loved.

My cousin's maternal grandmother had Alzheimer and in the last stage she also refused to eat. I didn't see her in that state but they said she accused everyone of poisoning her. Surely the dark labyrinths of mind are dangerous if one gets lost.

[Delta40]

Thanks AG. No need to be sorry for me though. I think alot of grieving for Madge has been done already if that makes sense. I wasn't there but my friend held her mother in her arms as she died and afterward she bathed her in the bed and dressed her which was a beautiful tribute to her.

[Haunted]

I think alot of grieving for Madge has been done already if that makes sense.

Anticipatory grief, yes, for some family members and close friends it starts years before death. Horrible. My condolences. Hope Madge lived a full life. In a weird way lucky for your friend to have been there at that moment. Beautiful thing she did afterwards.

[Bar22do]

So you actually wrote this poem as Madge was dying... what a great support to the family and farewell to her... it reads as her last effort to build sentences... My deep sympathy to you and her family...