I never imagined that at 50, I’d be facing much more memory loss. I have a TBI frontal and temporal lobes in my brain from a 2007 single car accident. The TBI was my preparation to live with Dementia. Most people expect dementia to come much later in life, but for me, it showed up early—long before I was ready. At first, it felt like the end of the life I knew. But over time, I’ve started to see it differently: not just as something being taken away, but as a lesson in how to live with what remains.
The first signs were small. Forgetting appointments. Losing track of conversations. Writing the same thing down over and over in my notebooks. I blamed stress, aging, even distractions. But after multiple car accidents, TBIs, and a cancer journey behind me, I knew something deeper was happening. When the doctors confirmed dementia, I felt both relief (finally, an answer) and grief (because the answer wasn’t what I wanted).
At first, I tried to fight it. I thought if I wrote everything down, if I pushed harder, I could keep control. But the truth is, I can’t control it. The turning point came when I realized that my notebooks weren’t just survival tools—they were part of my story. Instead of being ashamed of needing help, I started to see these systems as my way of staying connected to myself.
Here are three lessons dementia is teaching me:
1. Slowing down isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. My pace may be different now, but it lets me notice what I used to miss.
2. Support is strength. Asking for help doesn’t make me a burden—it makes me human.
3. My story still matters. Even if I forget details tomorrow, the act of sharing today gives it meaning.
Living with memory loss is not easy. Some days I grieve the pieces I can’t get back. But other days, I find peace in knowing I can still love, laugh, write, and connect. I may not remember every moment, but I’m learning to live inside the ones I have.
If you or someone you love is facing dementia or brain injury, know this: you are not alone. I’d love to hear—what helps you hold on to the moments that matter most?