Bringing Memories back to life.

My mother has dementia and is gradually forgetting who we are, although she often pretends otherwise. Despite this, I’m gathering information about our family history whilst she can recall some info. My beautiful sister had Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects girls and leads to severe cognitive and physical impairments. My mother cared for her throughout her life, dedicating herself to lifting, feeding, cleaning, and loving her until my sister passed away 11 years ago, she was 56, my mother was 82! After that, her health declined quickly. Now, at 93, a decade later, it feels like just a moment has passed, and she has forgotten my sister.

On an ancestry site, I decided to upload my sister’s baby picture. I was hesitant about showing it to my mother, but my family encouraged me to do so. With some trepidation, I presented it to her. She cried but was able to recall my sister, where she had forgotten her.

While with her I animated images of her parents and the rest of the siblings, creating a nostalgic journey through our family history. What started with tears ended in laughter; although she forgot each image as she saw it, replaying those memories brought her joy. That afternoon became a beautiful time of reminiscing as I shared old photos, allowing her to reconnect with cherished moments. It wasn’t until she left that I realised it was my sister’s birthday! Happy Birthday Sis!