Unknowingly Dying Without Dignity - Sylvia's Dementia Story

By Stephanie Edwards

Unknowingly dying without dignity - Sylvia's Dementia Story is a non-fiction biography. It takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions as it chronicles her life with Dementia.
From its uninvited subtle presentation to its progression which nearly consumes all her cognitive abilities. Unfortunately, a new critical diagnosis never disclosed to her and her family catapults into a tumultuous whirlwind, leaving Sylvia’s dignity in the balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: May 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781489746238

Book preview

UNKNOWINGLY

DYING WITHOUT

DIGNITY -

SYLVIA’S DEMENTIA STORY

STEPHANIE EDWARDS

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Copyright © 2023 Stephanie Edwards.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4620-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4619-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4623-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023908457

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 05/18/2023

CONTENTS

Dedication

Early Childhood

Fast Forward a Bit to High School

Adulting and All It Entailed

As the Old Saying Goes, Somebody is Always Watching

New Beginnings

Entering a New Space in Life

I Just Can’t Remember

Grim Dementia Diagnosis

Florida

911, We Have an Emergency

Unknowingly Dying without Dignity

Poem written by Stephanie Edwards to her mom

DEDICATION

With much affection and adoration, this book is dedicated to Sylvia Edwards, my beloved mother and guardian angel. Your selflessness and giving spirit made you so perfect in my eyes. I thank God for blessing you so abundantly in life and with eternal life in his kingdom. I know you are so happy singing and rejoicing in his name forevermore. I love you and I miss you.

—Stephanie

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Sylvia as a child

This non-fiction story takes place in St. Louis,

Missouri. It briefly gives you a backstory of Sylvia

Edwards’s life yet primarily focuses on the past ten

years. This story highlights a courageous woman

who persevered through numerous challenges, most

notably her battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

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She was born Sylvia Ann Bracey on December 11, 1941 to Wyatt G. Bracey Sr. and Sarah Bracey (Shelton). She was the eldest of their three children.

Sylvia grew up in a normal household in which she was reared in love, where care and compassion were at the forefront of its foundation. Helping others in need when able was a rule they lived by. Family was everything to them until tragedy struck. In 1952, when Sylvia was ten, her mom, who was five months pregnant, sustained a fall down a flight of stairs in her home. She and her unborn fetus succumbed to their injuries post-fall—the fetus immediately, the mom ten days later. As a young girl with two younger siblings, Mary Elizabeth and Wyatt Grantham Jr., Sylvia was thrust into an uncertain parent-like role. She was now heavily relied upon to assist her newly widowed father in raising her younger siblings. Prior to passing away, her mom instilled in her independence and self-sufficiency through life-sustaining lessons. She taught her how to cook, clean, and wash and iron clothes. Sarah was a stay-at-home mom and a hairdresser on the side. Sylvia acquired hair-styling techniques, which she would later utilize in doing her and her sister’s hair.

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Siblings: