Parenthood
Moment Mom With Dementia Remembers Daughter
Grab the tissues, you'll need it for this one.
D.G. Sciortino
03.18.19

While life is immeasurably beautiful and a true gift to be had, it can be hard. Things like dementia can make it tough.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is a term used to describe a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to affect everyday life.

The most common kind of dementia is memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 6o to 70 percent of dementia cases.

Alzheimer's Reading Room
Source:
Alzheimer's Reading Room

It is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that begins slowly and gets worse as time goes on.

It’s most common symptom is memory loss.

“Many people have memory loss issues. This does not mean they have Alzheimer’s or another dementia. There are many different causes of memory problems,” the Alzheimer’s Association’s website states.

Alzheimer's Association
Source:
Alzheimer's Association

Dementia is caused by damage to the brain cells that interferes with the brain cell’s ability to communicate with each other.

When brain cells can’t communicate properly it affects one’s thinking, behavior, and feeling.

It can affect different areas of the brain that are responsible for different functions like memory, judgment, and movement.

The University of Queensland
Source:
The University of Queensland

If cells in a particular area of the brain are damaged, that part of the brain can’t carry out its designated function.

The brain area called the hippocampus is the center of learning and memory in the brain.

It’s often the first area of the brain to be damaged, which is why memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

MJ Grant
Source:
MJ Grant

Having a loved one lose their memory can be devastating.

They can forget all about the ones that are closest to them and even forget who they are themselves.

That’s what happened to MJ Grant. Both of her parents, Manley and Carmen Grant, were deaf and taught their children to use sign language at an early age.

MJ Grant
Source:
MJ Grant

When dementia set in for Carmen, she forgot who MJ was.

She did, however, remember her husband and how to sign.

Carmen would sit right next to MJ and not even recognize her.

MJ Grant
Source:
MJ Grant

MJ captured a touching moment on video where her mother did remember her for a moment.

MJ mentioned her father’s name and that seems to bring all of Carmen’s memories back, even if only for a short while.

While dementia can be a terribly sad thing for families to deal with, MJ remains positive and is thankful for any moment where her mom is able to remember.

MJ Grant
Source:
MJ Grant

“Dementia can be beautiful,” MJ wrote in a Facebook post “Yesterday I took my mother for a ride to the beach. Taking her out of her element (my home, where she lives) can be confusing for her. Within the confusion, there can be such beauty and sweet little surprises. I simply adore her.”

You can check out this beautiful moment in the video below.

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