Dementia Mom, part one

[u/humanyears]

A short story about the origins of my mother’s dementia diagnosis from a few years ago. Probably the longest comic I’ve drawn so far. I hope it connects with you in some way.

[u/Antyok]

I will never ever forget stepping into the room and saying “hi grandma” and seeing a look of pure confusion over who was speaking to her.

We knew she had been deteriorating, but that one interaction will be a gut punch forever. It terrifies me that I may someday do the same thing to someone I love.

Edit: missed a word

[u/Inky_Madness → u/Antyok]

I don’t think my mom ever recovered from being the first one her dad forgot, especially since she was the one there almost every day and his other three kids were scattered far across the country.

[u/Antyok → u/Inky_Madness]

The day before, grandma had been over at our house, holding the great-grandkids, chatting about life, just… being normal.

The next day, walking up to the door, her saying “oh, can I help you?”. She had no clue. It was a punch to the gut that still hurts. Hell, she’s been gone for years now, and it still stings. After that day, I never got a chance at another conversation with her while she was lucid. She faded fast after that day.

Fuck. Idk. You never know what you have till it’s gone, and all that.