Foto Story Friday #101--Em and Nana

Em loves her Nana.  Nana is suffering from dementia and often has no idea who people are.  It is sad and hard to watch someone you love go through this disease.  Several years ago, I cared for my grand Uncle who also suffered from dementia.  I attended a seminar with my mom on it hosted by Shelley Fabares who cared for her mother while she suffered with alzheimer's dementia. It was a very informative seminar and of course pretty cool to meet an actress.  Nana displays many of the signs and symptoms of this disease.  For those of us who remember her before, it is tough to see her this way. Tougher for her Daughter, Son-in-law and grandson who can remember how active and very busy with this craft or that one she always was.  The older 2 kids especially remember going to her house and playing while she excitedly told me about some new stamping set she had gotten or the Christmas ornaments she was working on for the grandkids and great grandkids.  When we lived in Vegas, I made it a point to stop by every week for a visit, because I felt it important for my kids to really know their great grandparents.  They would play and I would visit with Nana and Papa. But for the younger kids, this is the only Nana they know.  Scott is scared of her and will only, on occasion, give her a hug or talk to her. Em, on the other hand,  just loves her and often goes up and talks to her.  As was the case a few Sunday's back, when I looked over to see her patiently kneeling next to her turning the pages in a craft magazine.
 

The sad part is, because EmmaLece is the one who likes to sit and talk with her, she is the only one of the kids that Nana remembers and blames her for everything that she can't find or any noise that she hears.  Nana often says things like:  "that little girl...."  While it drives my mother-in-law batty when she blames Em for anything and everything, I just laugh and think how I hope Em will remember with fondness sitting with her and talking and enjoying her company.  She always runs over and says hi and usually gives her a hug before we leave.  She loves her Nana even if Nana blames her for her missing glasses!