A World Within: A Remarkable Story of Coping with a Parent's Dementia

by Minakshi Chaudhry

This story is an unfinished one. The story of a man dying in slow motion . . .He clings to flashes of memory and grapples with his ‘reality’. As he chases the mirage of his memory, his world disappears fragment by fragment. It is not just his being, his self that disintegrates every moment; it is the universe as he knew it that fades into oblivion. This is a tale of a man building bridges to nowhere. Everything around you changes when you take care of a parent with dementia. This person who had been bedrock of your strength, to whom you looked up to and who was always there for you is now nothing close to his former self. His enquiring glances, puzzlement, doubts and demand for answers signal a total shift in relationship. The despair also reveals the person you are – temperamental and escapist. But this journey has life lessons When drama of life ends, you will have nothing; today is all you have, so enjoy life. With tears there is laughter and amidst confusion there is clarity that life goes on and we must flow with it. Here is A World Within . . .

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2014

Reviews

[Amit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very personalised memoir by a girl who loves her dad(dadoo) a lot. The author is able show the frustrations and confusions faced by the dementia patient. I somehow felt the book was written with a sense of urgency and as the author says is an unfinished one. You discover some brilliant socratic dialogue and philosophical gems in between the daughter-dad conversations. The helplessness, confusion and heartbreak, you do feel these emotions and empathise with dadoo. After knowing the author personally, you do get a feeling like listening to Ma'am in real. May the Dadoo rest in peace.

[Sudar]

A very moving read

A must read for people dealing with old persons. Very well written. Covers all aspects and acceptance is the final solution