Harry’s Lantern on the Dementia Road

Tru here.  Harry was leading the way as a Dementia Mentor when I arrived on this road.

  Harry Urban  February 1, 2015 at 7:14am

I want to go home, where I belong. I seem to be drifting away into this world of nothingness. I don’t belong here and can’t understand why I am here. These are …the thoughts that go through your mind when you suffer from some form of dementia.

You seem to suddenly realize that your life is being forgotten. You look around and don’t recognize anybody or where you are. It doesn’t seem right and you just want to go home. The problem is, I don’t remember where home is.

I may be at the point of no return. I can’t retrace my steps to that other life I once lived and I certainly can’t hide. I scream, I want to go home, but no one can reach into my mind to help me. I am alone and wandering down this road that I believe is going to lead me to a better life.

  Truthful Kindness  February 2, 2015 at 12:15pm Tru here:  Harry, You are the Point Man. As expressed in the comments made after you posted this, near behind you are other friends. This status update of yours reminds me of my Daddy leading the way thru the night:  When Daddy and I were walking in the night, he held the lantern to his side rather than out in front of him. In essence, it spotlighted his feet. That allowed Him to see a bit of the trail ahead, and me to see bumps and thistles on the trail between the two of us. This Dementia Trail is a very bumpy trail with tangles of thistles!! As we go, we can sign-post some of the dangers for those following behind, and I think that is what we do with our writings. Coaches & on-lookers can observe and assist, but we on the Dementia Trail itself have a unique perspective. Someday there will be a cure, and we hope the trail will not last long enough to become a well-worn path. But in the meantime … Thank you, Harry, for continuing to shine the light on your path, in order for us to better see our own paths. … You are loved, Harry. You are very loved. (( hugs )) 

  Harry Urban  February 9, 2015 at 6:14am: Have you ever had the feeling that you helped someone you never met? There is nothing like it. I wish it would be a mandatory feeling that everyone had to feel at least once in their life. To me it is a very emotional feeling that is hard to explain. I never cry but I shed tears when I am able to help someone that has no one else to turn to. I call it my work but it is a gift given to me by this horrible disease I have called Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s has taken me to the darkest of places and I had to learn how to crawl out or be stuck there for as long as I live. It is not a social commitment or a part time endiver, it is what I am suppose to do with my life. I take it very serious and get upset when someone considers it nothing more then a place to talk. Unless you walk the path, you have no idea.

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