Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Progressive Memory Loss

Originally posted as a comment to the Glioblastoma Aggressive Brain Cancer post which describes some of the symptoms associated with Charlotte's cancer.  Dave's observations seemed like they should be a full post.



Comment by Dave

The progressive memory loss is getting pretty bad. Yesterday (Sunday) at the dinner table Charlotte informed us that it was Tuesday. When we politely corrected her she became very annoyed and insisted it was Tuesday! The whole table went quiet. We let it go. I talked to her later that night about the incident and she closed her eyes and kind of hung her head in what looked almost like shame. I quickly changed the subject because the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her feelings. 

She closes her eyes, hangs her head, or turns the other way in what appears to be an act of defiance mixed with confusion whenever we ask her something that requires a semi-complex response. 

The one thing she is still very quick to do is move to action when one of our kids starts crying. She'll appear in a room on the other side of the house in seconds if there seems to be trouble. She's also very quick to correct or remind our kids to be careful if she thinks they are running too fast or playing too rough (usually done very quietly, almost under her breath).

I've definitely noticed all three of the above mentioned symptoms of Glioblastoma: progressive memory loss, change in personality and neurological deficit. It was about a week ago that she surprised Sheelagh and I while we were watching a movie. She came downstairs unexpectedly and insisted that we had snuck in the house like teenagers. However, we had just finished assembling a table with her in the living room only a few minutes beforehand. That was when it really sunk in for me that she was sick. I tried to hold back tears but my emotions were too close to the surface. 

It's hard to see this previously very powerful woman in such a confused state, but its been nice to spend some time with her after the surgery and I think it has been good for the kids to see some of the realities of mortality.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for doing this blog about Charlotte. I knew that she was going to be living with Sheelagh and her family after the Alaskan Cruise (which is great), but I worried about how I could keep in touch. Charlotte means a lot to me; please let her know she is in my prayers. You are a wonderful family.
    love, Judith

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