MEMORY COMES AND GOES

My wife Julian has an aunt who was 90 last weekend. There was a huge family party from relatives from all over South Africa. When we arrived we were told by other family members that Sally was not very well and appeared to be suffering from loss of memory. At age 90 it would be very likely that Sally was suffering from dementia or alzheimers.
Frankly things looked bad, but the next day a relative contacted Julian to say that her aunt was now 'right as rain' and up and about and disappointed that she had missed her own party. She was carrying out her daily chores and hopefully has a few more years to look forward to.
This was very thought provoking to me and I realized how I had assumed the worst and I had not even considered that Sally's memory could return. I should have known better, because my own memory loss is not constant, most days are fine but sometimes I forget names, faces and words.
Dementia in the early stages does not stop victims from living an almost normal life. Sometimes struggling for words is frustrating, but the word usually comes back. Unfortunately names not remembered remain lost.
However, my dementia remains at the same level, proving that it is possible to arrest memory deterioration.
Those diagnosed with dementia should not lose heart, it is possible through attention to health to live an almost normal life, sometimes for many years.

Here in Paarl we have rain today which is very welcome. Dogs, birds, squirels etc., all well, but no swimming for Boysie
Work on my book progresses well and I am very excited about this new book.
David Barnato.
Paarl. South Africa.