I went to a meeting yesterday of the Torbay Dementia Leadership Group of which I am lucky enough to be Chairperson of. One of the things we discussed was how important it is for an early diagnosis.
We all more or less agreed that there was some sort of downfall on the local Doctors Part (but not all of them) as some of them still see Dementia as nothing more than an aging problem and old age and dementia comes hand in hand!!
This is one part of the fight to raise awareness that must be addressed. I personally can’t express how IMPORTANT an early diagnosis is!!! And why wouldn’t you want to know?? I can fully understand that some people don’t want to and I respect their decision but it still baffles me as to why. The way I look at it is:
“If you were going into Battle, wouldn’t you want to know all about your enemy? Their strengths, their weaknesses ETC??”
The more you are informed, the more you learn how to deal with it and how to deal with others when the awkward questions come along, and make no mistake, they will!!!
On a more personal note the time I have spent with my family these last three years have been amongst the best of my life and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a single moment of them. There has been many happy times and also many tears along the way in the three years I have been diagnosed and whilst I know the “Clock is Ticking” it doesn’t stop me trying to carry on enjoying every minute of it.
Some people have asked me if I had one wish what would it be, and the answer is always the same “A CURE” nothing more nothing less. Money and material thing mean absolutely nothing if you haven’t got your health. I have sat and cried a million tears both alone (Dementia sufferers are very good at hiding things) and with my family but at the end of the day we have to carry on!! Life just doesn’t stop because you have a diagnosis!!! The easiest thing in the world is to give up!!! What’s the old saying?
“It’s better to die as a Lion than a Lamb”
Wise words indeed and even for those of us who don’t feel like fighting it, then those of us that do, must be there for them to share our strength and help and support them. Some people don’t have the same strength as others do so we must be there for each and every one of them in this fight we call life.
As for me and my family, we take it day by day and try to enjoy every moment of it. So please come on all you GP`s and practitioners, it’s time to change and time to make a difference, our time in now, and so is yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
