id: 11861566
As an only child living hundreds of kilometers away from my mother, I often overlooked her aging and declining health due to my busy life. It became increasingly difficult to gauge her mood as she gradually lost her spirit, sometimes displaying sudden aggression or confusion. Since 2022, my mother has experienced frequent falls, raising concerns about her knee condition, which was previously monitored by an orthopedic doctor. After several falls, she suffered a serious shoulder fracture that required surgery. Although her physical condition has improved, her mood has become unstable, leaving me worried and confused about her well-being.
To provide support, I arranged for a care giver to assist her with daily needs. However, a few weeks later, my mother began to forget her surroundings and recall more from her past, often mentioning names I did not recognize. A doctor diagnosed her with vascular dementia, prompting me to research this unfamiliar term. Dementia encompasses various conditions affecting memory and cognitive function, often accompanied by stigma and misunderstanding.
Despite the despair I felt as my mother lay in bed, I remained connected through daily video calls. I experienced compassion fatigue, grappling with the paradox of losing my mother while she was still alive. After nine challenging months, her condition began to improve, and she started to recognize me again. Since February 2024, she has been living with me in Jakarta, where her health continues to stabilize. This project is vital to me, as it highlights the importance of early intervention and awareness regarding dementia. If granted funding, I aim to promote campaigns that prepare families for this reality.
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