My Grandad Has Alz-Eye-Murs

By Bernadette Muckian

Michael is 6 years of age when his grandad is first diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

Follow their journey through the sad and sometimes hilarious moments, as they cope with the changes this brings to both their lives.

Meet Michael's best friends Rose and Jack, who are with him as he helps care for his Gra

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bernadette Muckian
• Release date: Nov 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781802279511

Book preview

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© 2022 Bernadette Muckian

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior written permission of the author.

ISBN:

978-1-80227-951-1 (eBook)

978-1-80227-952-8 (paperback)

A cip catalogue for this book is available from the National Library.

Dedication

In memory of my dad,

Dr John McCormack

1910 – 2010

Also, to all those currently have family members suffering from any form of Dementia.

To my mother Eileen McCormack who died recently, thank you for everything you have ever done for me.

My cousin Mary O’Neill described you recently as ‘a small but mighty woman.’ I couldn’t agree more.

‘A fly and a flea flew into a flue

Said the fly we must flee

Said the flea we must fly

So they flew through a flaw in the flue’

***

‘A wonderful bird is the Pelican,

His beak can hold more than his belly can.

He can keep in his beak, Enough for a week

And I don’t know how the hell he can!’

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I would like to thank my husband John for his unfailing belief in me, and for his constant love and support no matter what mad scheme I dream up.

My children: Kevin, Carmel, Áine, Aisling, Eileen and Michael are always there for me, so thank you.

Thank you to my brother Dr Seán McCormack, a general practitioner with over 30 years of experience, who cast his medical eye over my story to make sure that I hadn’t made any major errors. When we were growing up I just saw him as my baby brother, generally a bit of a nuisance, but really he’s worth his weight in gold and generous to a fault.

I would like to thank Nicola Kearns, of leitrimwritingcottage.com renowned author and mentor who encouraged and directed me in my dream of becoming a writer. She also makes the most delicious homemade soup!

Noelle Marks of Shanroe Photography, thanks for being such great fun while working your magic to produce my author photo.

To Margaret Finnegan of An Tobar Wellness Centre, thanks for reading the final draft and for your encouraging comments. Margaret’s mother Libby is living with Vascular Dementia, so Margaret was the perfect person to review this book.

Many thanks to Steven Weekes for type setting and book layout, and to Finán Callaghan for the cover design, you have made a beautiful book out of my scribbles.

Thank you to my son Michael, who at the age of 10,read the first draft of this story and pronounced it ‘deadly’.

Finally I would like to thank my grandchildren for bringing so much extra joy and laughter into my life.

Bernie

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter 1

Grandad Gets Lost

Chapter 2

A New Friend

Chapter 3

Grandad in the Nip!

Chapter 4

A Fly and a Flea

Chapter 5

Michael’s Birthday

Chapter 6

When The Party Was Over…

Chapter 7

A Day At Jack’s House

Chapter 8

A Nasty Shock

Chapter 9

A Lucky Escape

Chapter 10

Daffodil Lodge

Chapter 11

The Football Final

Chapter 12

Presentation Evening At St. Malachy’s

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Prologue

‘My grandad has