Layla, Queen of Hearts. She touched me deep in the very part of me that still lives and remembers. Losing your mind is hard, sometimes I know who I am and the people who visit and sometimes I don’t. Nell came often, I know her. One day she brought someone else and another day she brought someone else. Griffin wrote their names on a piece of paper, I put it on the refrigerator so I could remember. We looked at griffins in a book, maybe that helped. Writing helps. Layla and Griffin had their names on their chests. One day it was important I go with Layla but I couldn’t remember why. We went to school and had a grand time. We painted, I painted Layla, my Queen of Hearts to help me remember. In the end it didn’t help and my mind went so far away nothing could help.

Ed: You can find this book at Booktopia. It’s a great way to explain dementia to young children and gives them ideas on how to treat people with dementia.