Last night was my Poppy's birthday....

Perth, Australia
March 7, 2021 8:01am CST
So last night was my Poppy’s (grandfather) birthday. My dad, brother and I went to my Nan and Pop’s house to have some pizza and some cake. Sadly there were a few times my Pop asked us who’s birthday it was. When we first walked into their house we all wished him a happy birthday to which he said thank you but a bit later on while we were sitting there eating dinner and later again while having cake, he didn’t seem to understand why we were there and who’s birthday we were celebrating. He is looking very skinny in the face due to not eating much as he often now loses his appetite. When my Poppy first started showing signs of dementia, I was in complete denial but now I’ve come to terms with it considering how much he is forgetting and that phase he went through when he was getting aggressive being convinced my Nanny was cheating on him with a neighbour. He swears he was actually seeing them making out but that wasn’t happening. That phase has past thank goodness but still upsetting with what he is going through. Though a few nights back he kept on waking my Nanny up asking who "the man was standing in the bedroom." No one was there. My heart aches for what he is going through and all our hearts ache for seeing our family member disappearing. I love my Poppy very much. ****photo is mine. My Poppy and my Nanny - this was a time he was confused about whose birthday it was and my Nanny was explaining it to him****
14 people like this
14 responses
@WorDazza (15836)
• Manchester, England
7 Mar 21
It's a devastating illness, as much for the family and friends as for the person diagnosed with it. Just try to enjoy the more lucid times he has and just be there for him. Even in the times he doesn't seem to recognise you or seems confused about what's going on you can never really know how much is actually registering with him. Quite possibly more than you realise so don't ever think it's a waste of time being with him. You're actually lucky to be able to spend time with him. Due to the covid rules in the UK I have seen my mother, who has dementia, once in the past year. For 20 minutes through a window.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15836)
• Manchester, England
28 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 Thanks. It was nice to see my mum looking happy even though she doesn't recognise me. Hope you are getting to spend lots of quality time with your Poppy.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@WorDazza That is extremely true. It's very hard. Fortunately he seems to remember all of us which we are thankful for. I don't know if that's something that will eventually happen. But either way, you are right and I thank you for your encouraging and supporting words. I'm very heart broken to read that. I knew this was happening but it's always just as heart breaking as the last time I heard about it. I'm very sorry that this is the case for you and your mother.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
27 Mar 21
@WorDazza I'm so sorry to know about your Aunt. As well as so sorry you yet again can only see your mum through a window and for her possibly not recognising you. I can only imagine. Ditto! I really hope that can be the case too.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
12 Mar 21
I am so sorry for your grandfather, I understand how you feel as I saw my grandma going through the same and it was so sad and devastating. All he needs now is love and family to help him.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
27 Mar 21
@nela13 Thank you very much for your kind words, I am so sorry about your Grandma. It truly is sad and devastating just like you said.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
27 Mar 21
@nela13 Thank you so very much!
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
27 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 best wishes for your family
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454901)
• Switzerland
8 Mar 21
I am so sorry that your Poppy is showing signs of dementia, it must be hard for the family and for you. I hope he enjoyed the cake, even if he could not realize that it was his birthday.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454901)
• Switzerland
12 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 Oh my goodness, I am really sorry for the money, may be he hid the money somewhere, but it's difficult to know where to look for it.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
20 Mar 21
@LadyDuck Thank you kindly. We are still uncertain what happened. It was $10,000 of their savings too which has stressed my Nanny out a lot. And like you said, difficult to know where to look. My Nan has searched the house but no luck.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@LadyDuck Thank you very much for your supportive words. It truly is hard especially for my Nanny who lives with him. She looks after him and has to keep repeating herself a lot and often losing things around the house. Unfortunately one of the things that has completely vanished was a bundle of money that my Poppy grabbed from the safe and hid somewhere or maybe he threw it out. It's unknown.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Mar 21
It's very sad to hear about your grandfather's deterioration but it seems many dementia patients go through these stages. It must be very confusing and distressing for them - and heartbreaking for their loved ones. That's a nice photo to have.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 I'm sorry about the other photo but at least you have this one.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
13 Mar 21
@JudyEv All good, I agree.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@JudyEv All very true words Judy. Very upsetting for those who suffer and for those watching them suffer. Thank you kindly. There was another one but I deleted it as all it did was make me cry. It was similar to this photo but my Poppy's face was showing confusion and what looked like sadness. I couldn't handle it.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26786)
• United States
27 Mar 21
Sad for you that your beloved Grandfather isn't himself. God help, all of you, amen.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
27 Mar 21
@oahuwriter Thank you for your kind words.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
28 Mar 21
@oahuwriter You too.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26786)
• United States
28 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 You're welcome, take care.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
7 Mar 21
that is so hard i know. my kids, watched my dad start suffering with that. They, (the twins) never really got to see my dad at his very best.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@DocAndersen I'm so sorry about your dad. Like you said, it's so hard. *big hugs to you*
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
12 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 big hug back at ya! keep your chin up! things always get better.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
27 Mar 21
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
7 Mar 21
Aww. Sorry to hear that but Happy Birthday to your Poppy. I hope he has many more to come. Much love to your Poppy.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
15 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 You are very welcome.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@stephcjh Thank you so very kindly for your beautiful comment. Very much appreciated!
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32326)
• Malaysia
7 Mar 21
My grandma had it. It's painful when she started forgetting about us little by little. Be strong in the future
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@prinzcy I'm truly sorry about your grandma having it. My Poppy thankfully hasn't forgotten about us but I assume that might happen one day, I'm not sure but heartbroken to know that happened with your grandma. Thank you so much. You're a gem!
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Mar 21
Sending him all good Birthday wishes even though all that is happening.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
12 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 You are very welcome bless him hope his Birthday was a good one.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@lovinangelsinstead21 Thank you so so very much!
1 person likes this
@much2say (53650)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Mar 21
I'm glad the family got to celebrate your Poppy's birthday! But yah, it's tough with dementia. My late father in law had advanced dementia.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53650)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Mar 21
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@much2say Thank you very much. It truly is so tough, I agree with you. I'm so sorry to know that your father in law had it.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48226)
• Canada
7 Mar 21
My mother went thru this about 12 years ago. She has full blown Alzheimers now, and doesn't recognize alot of the family most of the time. She cannot remember my Dad, whom she was married to for 50 years. What kills me is that the disease is so cruel that she forgets him, but remembers our daughter, who only lived 2 weeks. It sounds like he has sun-downers. That is when the illness ramps up at night. You'll have to research it to help you better understand it.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@Juliaacv I remember you being so kind explaining what you had been through regarding this horrible disease and I'm so truly sorry. I'm sorry for what your mum was going through and all the hurt you were all feeling. Which obviously was not on purpose by your mum but still sad to go through regardless. Thank you for that, I will look into that and it may be beneficial for my Nanny too. Thank you! *big hugs*
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48226)
• Canada
12 Mar 21
@VivaLaDani13 You're welcome
1 person likes this
@marlina (154183)
• Canada
7 Mar 21
It is so sad for you and your family, hope that we can still have good moments with him,
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@marlina Thank you so very much. I appreciate your comment a lot.
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 21
Aww, so sorry to hear about Poppy's dementia. I witnessed my own mother's demise a couple of years ago as she withered away from the disease. It was so heartbreaking. Just enjoy every possible moment you can with your Nan and Poppy while they are still here with you.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 21
@moffittjc Thank you very much Jeff. I'm so sorry to know about your mum suffering with it. It's a very tough and challenging thing to suffer with and witness.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (16957)
• Mombasa, Kenya
24 Jan 23
Your poppy is enjoying himself on his birthday. I wish him a happy birthday and longer life.
1 person likes this
• Perth, Australia
25 Jan 23
@Treborika Thank you very kindly.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (16957)
• Mombasa, Kenya
25 Jan 23
1 person likes this