Poem: Young Onset Dementia – Making It Real

I felt a special connection with Kate
What it was is hard to define.
Her words, her thoughts, her feelings.
I have followed them closely on-line.

Kate blogs about living with dementia
It’s powerful. It’s honest. It’s real.
We can learn just so much from professionals
But they can’t tell us how people feel.

Kate’s wonderful humour’s uplifting
As she shares the good times and bad;
When she tells us she’s paddling harder
The reminder is touching and sad.

Compassion, empathy, understanding
Are important words that we use
But at the end of the day we realise
Only Kate can walk in Kate’s shoes.

So for anyone studying Dementia
When revision’s becoming a slog
Sit down with your favourite coffee.
Learn more by reading Kate’s blog.

This poem was written as my friend Kate flew back to Australia on 17 August 2013.
My previous blogpost describes our wonderful meeting in London during her brief visit to England.

By Gill Phillips.  All rights reserved. Copyright © Nutshell Communications Ltd, 2013.