In September 2001, three months after I had lost Jan to the assessment centre, and soon after to the care home, the attacks on the World Trade Center took place in New York. I watched events unfold, holding Jan's hand in a lounge at the assessment ward, surrounded by people who had no idea what was going on - Jan included.
On 22 August last year in 2010, in a happier event, 30-odd Chilean miners were found to be alive after being buried alive way underground.
As this was taking place, I was sitting in a side corridor of her care home with Jan, holding her hand, as she slipped away from me.
Later, in the evening, Jan died.
In the year that has passed since then, while I have grieved constantly for her loss, I am also at peace because finally Jan is at peace. A year on, she is still all around me, but I know she is not in a living purgatory, so I am happy for her.
Many world events happened while we were in the grip of Jan's dementia. They are still going on, and will continue to do so. Our particular instance of dementia has passed, but for many, many others at present, and yet more to come, hell will continue until a cure is found.
In the meanwhile, there is a heck of a job to be done in improving the lives of those who still have dementia and dementia-like symptoms, and those of their loved ones.
On 22 August last year in 2010, in a happier event, 30-odd Chilean miners were found to be alive after being buried alive way underground.
As this was taking place, I was sitting in a side corridor of her care home with Jan, holding her hand, as she slipped away from me.
Later, in the evening, Jan died.
In the year that has passed since then, while I have grieved constantly for her loss, I am also at peace because finally Jan is at peace. A year on, she is still all around me, but I know she is not in a living purgatory, so I am happy for her.
Many world events happened while we were in the grip of Jan's dementia. They are still going on, and will continue to do so. Our particular instance of dementia has passed, but for many, many others at present, and yet more to come, hell will continue until a cure is found.
In the meanwhile, there is a heck of a job to be done in improving the lives of those who still have dementia and dementia-like symptoms, and those of their loved ones.
