My Story of Hope
I remember the moment so clearly.
It was Christmas morning, and I was standing in my parent’s kitchen, the smells of the turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables all mingling to create the most wonderful Christmas Day aroma.
My Mum said to my Dad, ‘Time to carve the turkey, Eddie!” and she handed him the carving knife and a large fork.
My father, a retired facial surgeon, took them, knife in his right hand, fork in his left, as he has done many, many times in the past, as if preparing himself to perform a quick surgery on the turkey crown.
I watched him, waiting to put the first slices on the warmed plate to take to the hungry masses in the dining room.
I watched and I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
My father just stood there.
The knife and fork in his hands, staring at the turkey, confusion written all over his face.
He had no idea what to do.
No idea at all how to carve.
This incredibly intelligent, experienced, highly respected surgeon had no idea how to carve a Christmas turkey.
And in that moment, I realised just how terrifying Alzheimer’s disease was.
It had robbed my brilliant father of his capacity to do the simplest things, and it had robbed my family of the man he was.
I quickly took over, saying ‘Why don’t you go and sit down, Dad, and make sure all the grandkids are ok in the dining room?’ taking the knife and fork from him.
He did so, but I saw the look on his face, the sheer panic and anxiety of not knowing.
Since then, I became terrified that the same fate awaited me, that this illness was ‘coming to get me’.
And for a couple of years after his death, I tried to block those thoughts out, believing that such a fate might be mine and that I was unable to do anything about it.
However, the Universe has a strange way of showing a path for you, even though you can’t see it at the time.
In lockdown, as I had so much spare time, I did a lot of gardening, decorating, and baking, and all the time I would listen to podcasts.
I started to discover all sorts of research, information, and tips to not just improve my own health, but possibly to reduce my chances of this awful illness affecting me.
I became obsessed, reading, researching, listening, discovering everything I could about this subject.
From the effects of the menopause on women’s health, to how diabetes and blood pressure are big risk factors in developing a brain disease, and some super useful advice on what I could do myself to reduce my own risk.
Because on both sides of my family there were risk factors – obviously my Dad’s side but he also had Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease, my mum’s side there are heart problems as well.
And I began to realise, that their fate didn’t need to be my fate too.
With all the research becoming available, I really could start to take charge of my own health, and not leave it up to chance as to what my future health looked like.
I started to have Hope.
I also realised, that there were many, many others, particularly women, who could be helped with this information.
That is what I want to share with you, and to anyone else who is concerned about their future health.
Like how to get your blood sugars under control so you reduce your chances of becoming diabetic.
How strength training is the key to a long life as whenwe keep our muscles strong as we get older, this reduces our chances of falling and breaking a hip.
Why a full night’s sleep will literally spring clean your brain every night.
Make time for good healthy practice, and you will be rewarded with good health!
It’s not rocket science.
It’s just takes practice, guidance, and a little bit of perseverance.
Let me be your guide and coach to help you on that journey.
If you want to know how you could work with me to improve your own health journey, contact me at therapyrooms09@gmail.com
