Take My Patty by Alison Hayes
Memory Fades But
Love Remains
This book is dedicated to my Grandmother Marie Werner, whose love never faded even when her memory was gone. And for all those experiencing memory loss and the loved ones who walk this journey with them.
Over seven million people suffer from Alzheimer’s in the US. It has personally affected our family with multiple relatives. Many of our children will witness memory loss in their grandparents and hopefully TAKE MY PATTY can be a gentle way to explore the topic.
I couldn’t honor the memory of my grandma, without including her journey with Alzheimer’s. No matter the stage of Alzheimer’s she was in, she continued to make me feel seen and loved. My grandma’s love and our bond is the heart and inspiration of the story.
This is a picture of me dancing with my grandma at my cousin’s wedding. I was around eighteen and Grandma was in her late 80’s. Her memory was gone, but she still had the moves! She was thrilled to be out on the dance floor, and I delighted in dancing with her because I got to see that spark in her eyes. Unfortunately, there were no sailors at the wedding.
This is my grandma in her early 20s, dressed up for a night of dancing. When Grandma started to slip, she’d tell me stories of her fun nights out, dancing with her friends and meeting handsome sailors down by the river. Her eyes lit up as she recalled her fun memories.