Kelley Irwin

One day this week (Feb 2024), Mom called and said Dad can’t walk. He didn’t fall, nothing is visibly wrong, but he told her he just can’t do it.

We are 15 months post the formal medical diagnosis of dementia.

While there is no recovery from dementia, the path is not linear. So far, Dad has been walking a lot on most days. He can easily stand and even turn his back and walk away when he doesn’t like what someone is saying. There are also days his confusion makes it nearly impossible for him to get out of a chair as though his brain can’t comprehend where his hand should go and when to push with his legs.

Mom is concerned this week that it is more than confusion.

I have been busy for three days attending a conference, giving a keynote speech, attending 3 board meetings and providing guidance on recovery after a cyber attack.

But each of these days I talked to Mom and Dad on video conference. Dad is not himself, but he’s still able to tease me. On Monday with eyes closed (too tired to open them), he said he wished he could jump in a car and make it to Toronto to see my speech.

That’s my Dad.

Today as I sit in the airport, I am prepared for anything. He could be weak and unable to walk or he could just as easily be back to his independent self. There is nothing I can do until I get there so I’m just focused on breathing.