Joan's Story

By Sandra Gay Curtis

Looking around at her family, Joan sighed happily. Yes, she was truly blessed. For everything she had ever hoped for was right here in this room. Her family and her daughters, all happy and content, all the grandchildren growing up fast and making their own way in the world and her precious Ed by her side. Life was truly good. Today would be a memory she would never forget.

Roll on ten years and life for Joan has changed considerably. She has indeed lost all memory of that perfect day and many other happy memories. This story follows Joan through the heart-breaking suffering of dementia. Her family becomes more and more alarmed by her actions and tries to cope with the situation as sensitively as they can. However, dementia is a cruel and wicked disease which changes the whole dynamic of Joan’s life. Just what does the future hold for them all? Will Joan ever remember some of the good times again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398437043

Sandra Gay Curtis

Having lived in Spain for several years, Sandra Gay Curtis and her partner returned to the UK. Now living in West Sussex, she enjoys the sea air, going for country walks, and visiting places of historical interest. Sandra was born in SE, London and moved to Surrey a few years later. Having discovered the world of books and the joy of writing from an early age, she still continues to be enthralled by both. Her experiences of life as a nanny, secretary, housewife, and mother, have given Sandra an idea for her stories for which she is eternally grateful.

Book preview

About the Author

Having lived in Spain for several years, Sandra Gay Curtis and her partner returned to the UK. Now living in West Sussex, she enjoys the sea air, going for country walks, and visiting places of historical interest. Sandra was born in SE, London and moved to Surrey a few years later. Having discovered the world of books and the joy of writing from an early age, she still continues to be enthralled by both. Her experiences of life as a nanny, secretary, housewife, and mother, have given Sandra an idea for her stories for which she is eternally grateful.

Dedication

This is not only dedicated to all the Joans in our lives that have succumbed to the ever-debilitating disease of dementia, but especially, to the Joan in my life: Joan Daisy Brown, my beautiful, loving Mum (1921 to 2016).

Copyright Information ©

Sandra Gay Curtis 2022

The right of Sandra Gay Curtis to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398437036 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398437043 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Henry, my grandfather, for had he never introduced me to the world of books and encouraged me to write many years ago, I would never have gone down this path. Secondly, Louisa and Anna, my two beautiful daughters, for never letting me give up on my writing. Thirdly, to Gordon, my beloved partner, who I am so grateful to have in my life. Last but not the least, to Austin Macauley Publishers, for making my dream come true.

1998

‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Dad/Grandpop/Ed, happy birthday to you.’ The song echoed out through the dining room window into the street outside, as the Akehurst family celebrated yet another family birthday, organised by Joan. Passing cake around to them all, Joan beamed at every family member. How lucky she was to have them all, she thought. How lucky to have been married all these years to the love of her life, to have two beautiful daughters, and four much loved grandchildren. Life had its ups and downs in the past, of course it had. Money had been a struggle after the war, there had to be sacrifices made. But Ed had worked hard, and she had worked just as hard in the home to make sure he always had a hot meal to come home to, and the children were always looked after. Today was proof of that, she thought, looking around at the happy faces. Suddenly, a shiver ran through her. ‘All right darling?’ Ed, her husband asked her, as he noticed a look of concern come over Joan.

‘Yes, darling, I’m fine, someone just walked over my grave, that’s all’ Joan laughed, giving her husband a hug.

‘What a strange saying, that is,’ Ed stated.

‘Well let’s have no talks of graves today,’ Stuart, their eldest grandson, walked over, putting his arms around his grandparents’ shoulders, ‘for I have some exciting news to tell,’ he added with a twinkle in his eye. ‘You’re going to be Great Grandparents, soon. Angie and I are going to have a baby.’

Joan looked at her grandson with joy, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful news, Stuart, I am so happy for you,’ and Joan gave Stuart a big hug. Looking around at her family once more, she sighed, yes, she was well and truly blessed. For everything she had ever hoped for, was right here in this room, her family, now, about to become even larger. Her daughters happy and content. All grandchildren growing up fast and making their way in the world. Her precious Ed by her side. Life was truly good. Today would be a memory she would never forget.

Chapter 1

10 Years Later

Joan gently closed the door behind her, looking steadfastly ahead as she walked along the surgery corridor towards the reception area. The doctor’s words echoing in her ears, she had a precancerous growth, that she must book an appointment with the Clinic and what was that all about—him asking her silly questions as to who the present prime minister was and to counting backwards from twenty. Did he think she was going dotty or something? True, she was becoming a little forgetful lately…

‘Hello, Joan, everything all right?,’ a voice interrupted her thoughts.

‘Oh yes, hello, Vera, yes, fine, just been for a check-up,’ Joan smiled at