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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Good Grief Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings Stress

Weighing in

So this year has been and is gearing up to be a very busy year with my advocacy work. It helps keep me well, keeps me engaged, helps me continue to learn despite the dementia. It keeps me propelling forward, always challenging me.

Some days my brain is too muddled and things have to be put aside, but I use that I term as [work arounds] to help me figure out new ways to do things that have I  otherwise would not be able to do.

Sometimes it’s like living in one world ( living with dementia) , and still trying to function in the regular world. That is not easy for people with dementia, because all though we try to ensure others understand, clearly like in all other aspects, we can help them have a better understanding but they truly cannot as the saying going ( until you’ve walked in their shoes).

So many speaking engagements this year, I love them, being so engaged with people, sharing so much, allowing people to have a voice.

I am part of the “able team”, advisory board of the INeuron research project. Which is new innovative approach to science. This is a 6 year commitment i have given them. I am also part of Epled group which is the advisory team for the CCNA  ( Canadian Consortium in Neurodegenerative Aging) i have been involved with this since it’s inception, and will continue to work with them. We have changed and impacted the world of science. I love the knowledge, gaining a clear and deeper understanding of the how’s and why’s. I love the incredible people I have been honored to work with, collaborate with, seeing where we are, having a voice in where we need to go, being able to ensure the impact for people with a loved experience is at the forefront of all work being done.

I am working on projects for driving with dementia, dementia and palliative care, and many others, working with the Vast team out of the University of Calgary, this is work being done on dementia, heart and stroke, and of course is near and dear to me with my vascular dementia.

In and around those things there is life to be lived, it is all part of my quality of life. Spending time with my family and friends, having time with my husband. Being out in Nature as much as possible.

All of these things keep my calendar full, but most of these things gs I do as and when my system allows. Some things take a lot of planning, ensuring I have given my system enough rest, nutrition etc to ensure I can manage my commitments. I have also learnt to ensure that when I am asked to speak or participate that I am provided all I need to help me be able to do it successfully.

On another note, and this is difficult for me to write about, but I feel I need too. I am Canadian 100%, I watched when Trump was in power a few years ago, at that time I likened him to a modern day Hitler, when he got back into power, I cried. Even though he is head of another country. I have many friends in the USA, I have spend a lot of time traveling there, I am afraid for them, I feel even though we are a neighbors, we cannot let our guard down, yes the tariffs have bern paused for a few weeks, but I don’t people for one second we can trust this man or anyone around him. While I believe everyone has the right to their opinions and beliefs, and I will always respect that, I am also not afraid to say that for the first time in almost 66 years of being on planet earth, on being a Canadian, have I ever felt the trepidation about the coming days and I don’t think that will leave until he is out of power, the threats he has placed us under deserve our attention. While we cannot live I fear we must pay attention. I will be scrutinizing every candidate in our own elections, I will not just vote be cause of a party affiliation, we have seen how people we use the cloaks to hide their own agendas behind, so I will be paying close attention. So while I hope we have all learnt the importance of ensuring we are manufacturing and producing goods and buying goods from home, going forward, hopefully while we fo that we can maintain friendships, and one day maybe feel like we can travel again to our closest neighbor. I am sad that having yo chose otherwise right now will impact our friends and neighbor, but times call for action and we must send a clear and string message…Canada is not for sale, Canada will not be bullied. Canada will remain strong and free.

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Advocates Advocating Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings

Happy Thanksgiving

Its Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, so I thought it’s time for another blog. As always raw, honest and real is what I always promised and always opinions are always my own and not directed at anyone , or anything unless I clearly state that is. Otherwise it’s all me.

So I am sitting ar the top of a mountain this morning, with my husband,enjoying the sound of birds. Morning coffee in the cool crisp fall morning. I am so grateful to be here, yes to be sitting here with my husband, but also to be literally sitting here. I am seeing another Thanksgiving and boy to I have a lot to be thankful for. But in all honesty I am also angry at my body at the moment, for the first time in 3 years, and we all know what happened then, if not a quick refresher, and knowing it was and continues to be controversial, it is andxwas my realty, I was not doing well, much time in the hospitals, those closest to me fearful I wasn’t going to make it, all aspects of my system where struggling, I got a large dose of Moderna vaccine and it was it did a reset of my system. Fast forward to now, not one hospital stay in 3 years, I have been stable, but in the last week, my body again all systems are struggling, I have not felt this week or exhausted, mind and body for a good long time.

I am hoping that because I pushed hard this past 10 months, that my body is signaling me to spend some time refocusing on my well being. Some days it is easy to push aside that I have an illness that is quietly progressing, even when I look and feel like I am doing fine.

I had a bad fall 3 weeks ago, that started it, since then really and especially in this last week doing more resting than anything. And even though I get angry with myself or angry at my body/ 🧠, I know how much I have to be grateful fir and that this may be that little step down and that is expected and then I will bounce along again for a good long spell, heck if I’m lucky I can sweep through another three good years. Every day even if it’s a slower version is a good day. I am deeply grateful for all my husband does to support through all, and as I powered through to support him through his injury and surgery the last ten months, he’s almost ready to resume full activities, and he definitely understands that now it is his time to do some of the powering through, within his limitations of course. We see his specialist next week and hope that will set in motion his final piece of rehabilitation. I am proud of how he has managed it all, and it gives him a little understanding of how I feel when I am frustrated within myself.

Thanksgiving will be quiet this year and we are happy with that, perfect for us this year.

My advocacy work of course kicks up this time of year so am busy with that. Below you will see my next stop, and in the new year I will be heading to Toronto, other things will start booking soon. It is frustrating that so many have worked so hard and yet the movement for things to be improved for those living with dementia are slow. Although I do see good things happening within some communities, and we ate involved with the faculties of nursing and various other educational elements which shows a great willingness to learn and to change the scope of teaching and practice, so we are not without hope and however jaded we sometimes become with some of the organizations and their unwillingness to help move the bar, ( understandable, where keeping elements of fear and stigma keep money rolling in.) Howe er the bar is moving things are changing so hope prevails and I will never quit trying as long as I am able to make a difference. I didn’t like the term ( dementia friendly communities) , it can create its own stigma, but if we make communities dementia friendly we are also making them age friendly and if they are age friendly they are then good for families as well so the whole community. Everybody wins, and after taking part and speaking in several smaller communities I have seen the amazing things that can result from people coming together. So Dementia Friendly means we all win so let’s embrace it and if you can get involved in your community.

I hope wherever you you are remembering that you matter, that your voice matters. I hope you look for the joy in each and everyday. Get out enjoy the season and the wonders of nature that surround us.

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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Silver Linings

Missing Pheobe

This morning I woke missing my little Pheobe terribly. I think about her every day, but today the missing was so much more, I was thinking that I missed how well she new me, better I think than any other being ever has, animal or human. She instinctively was tuned in to me, in a way that cannot be duplicated or replaced, and at times I just miss that, I just miss her and what she gave and added to my life. No there is nothing wrong in my life, in fact it’s likely in a much better place than it’s ever been, my life is full, I am blessed in so many many ways, my health has been remarkably stable for quite some time, and yet my heart felt so heavy this morning missing my little dog. Funny how sometimes we don’t know the what or why of something, it just is. I am so grateful for the many many years of unconditional love she provided me with. I believe she is with me always and today I will enjoy the many memories of so many happy trips and adventures we had together ❤️.

on other notes, my advocacy work continues, although I now put my personal life first and remembering to live and find joy every day. I am grateful for all that I am able to do and enjoy.

I hope you all are taking time this summer to find some joy, sit in nature, breathe it in, to exhale, to listen to the birds, the rustling leaves in the breeze, sit with your feet in a cool stream. The seasons come and go so fast as does life itself, so pause take it all in, it’s truly remarkable.

Thankyou all for following along with me, for so long, my writings are farther apart now, but that’s because I am busy at life and life is busy, so be well, live your best life. I know I am.

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Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings Stress

Over Due Update

I am only writing occasionally know as things have or I should say had levelled off for me. I have been stable for a longer than expected stretch but as with all things dementia it all of a sudden changes and new challenges emerge. This time it is with my left side, particularly my left leg, and of course for the first bit I thought well that’s my bad knee I must of twisted it a little or something. I enrolled in physiotherapy, thinking this would be the fix. But after a couple weeks and no relief it was apparent something more was happening. Monitoring it closely, only in severe pain when lying in a rest position ie: bedtime. Pain worsens to the extreme level at night. I can walk, hope everything else at night. And suddenly it hits you…vascular dementia…vascular issue, blood flow issues. So calls in for Doctor to figure out a plan, massage and heat to try to minimize pain at night. Fighting the pain makes all other challenges more difficult, brings them more into focus. Small vessels disease a Vascular disease. Dementia effects are far greater than the brain 🧠. That’s the missing piece so often every one thinks it’s memory issues, it’s not ,there are so many other facets as to how one is impacted. Shit this is not what I wanted or needed at this point, but we can only do everything in our power to swart things but sometimes they happen anyways.

This has come at a time when I am already teetering a bit as my 65 birthday is in a couple days, and I think about my sister who never got to be 66. And as much as you try not too think about it I do. I have always said death doesn’t scare me and it doesn’t but I am not ready for that walk yet. I am finally living life as I always wanted with the man I always wanted too, and I am having a quality of life I never thought possible a few years ago. However I also am so acutely aware that my vascular dementia and it’s related complications can change things very quickly for me, that being said I plan on fighting to have at least till I am 85 with my beloved husband. So on with the good fight I go. Not sure what the next steps will be but I will update.

My life has been busy, Wayne was injured while working at the end of Jan so trying my best to take care of him and he finally had his surgery on April 11, so know it’s many appointments and treatment for the coming months. He has been a trooper through it all, I know he really misses is work, and know he will be excited when he can return. I have missed all of our trips as well, being his ” swamper and being able to support him in doing what he loves brings me a lot of joy. My advocacy work has been very busy, although not on the global stage very busy here in Canada and doing lots of work in smaller communities in BC. Which May will be a busy time, April has been full throttle. Getting ready to move on May 4th to Chilliwack, we bought a lovely place that gives us all we need and allows us to “age in place”, we are very excited for our move. but it has been admittedly a lot of work for me with Wayne being injured, but marriage is about each carrying the other at times and this is one of those times. It has actually been going smooth, it’s something I am good at. The only rough spot is that my vascular issues decided to play havoc at the same time. But still overall pretty smooth so far. Once we get moved, between Wayne’s physio and my physio, I have a speaking engagement in Oliver. Then at the end of May the Vast Conference in Calgary and Banff. So busy enough and hoping its total wind down after that. Better to be busy than stewing and Wayne helps keeps me on track. So taking care of one another, each doing what we can.

So do all you can, when and however you can, take the opportunities, the chances and find the joy and the love and drink it in.

On another note, at the CCNA conference, I had the pleasure of meeting a young man who is doing research ( nuero), at the university in Winnipeg. His ams is Turac, he originates from Turkey, his partner is Tia, they were here in Abbotsford to visit her family this last weekend and twice we had the pleasure of meeting with them. A delightful young couple. See pictures below. I am so blessed my advocacy has provided me so many opportunities to meet so many amazing people. This is the blessings in it all.

Some pictures as well from my trip to Montreal to the CCNA conference.

My beautiful gift from my most awesome friend Janet
Tracey, Tia, Wayne and I
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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Silver Linings

Making a Difference

I want you to meet my brother in law Jeff Lakey:

I want you to meet him because Jeff is one of those people who, when you meet him you will know you have met someone truly special. Someone whose soul will touch yours, who’s energy will ripple through you, you will feel it, I know I did.

Jeff has an incredible story. He has through is journey battling addictions put so much of it into music.

His music is raw, it is real. It evokes emotions, it can’t not. It makes us feel and no matter what our life journey is allowing ourselves to feel the emotions within us is how and where we can start to heal. This is what the world needs more than ever, to have the sbity to feel and to heal.

Most of us have been taught to suppress our emotions. ” to get on with it” ” get over it”, when what we need to teach is to feel it, the hurt, the pain, the joy. We all have things in life sometimes we manage through them fairly well, sometimes they break us. Whether it be drugs and alcohol, illness, family, work, life can be and is hard, we make it harder by trying to toughen up to get through things.

I do believe we need a certain amount of toughness and stubbornness to help propel us forward, bit dometimes what we really need is to be allowed to feel. To have what we feel accepted and acknowledged.

Music helps do many people and Jeff’s music is the music that acknowledges, draws you in allows you to feel, to come away with a different outlook, with a little more compassion, with our own vulnerability coming to the surface.

I know as a person living with dementia, Jeff’s music says so well so much of what a person living with dementia feels, and yet it was not written about dementia, but it shows how the music can transcend it ways we cannot.

Jeff’s sings from his heart, music that can heal, music that can inspire. Please take a listen, read Jeff’s Story, share his music, let’s together through music help heal the world. Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your talent and sharing your story.

Here is a link to one of Jeff’s incredibly beautiful songs as well as a little of Jeff’s Story. There will be more I will share over the next while.

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INSPIRATION, PEOPLE

JEFF LAKEY, HEALING WITH MUSIC

 ART MARTENS 3 COMMENTS

Jeff Lakey

Sitting under a lush canopy of green leaves in a Cawston orchard last week, I asked musician Jeff Lakey, “What has surprised you?” He replied, “I’m surprised I’m still alive and healthy.” After hearing his story, Linda and I were surprised too.

The setting was a neighbourhood gathering of orchardists, farmers, fruit pickers, and anyone living in the area. A long table was laden with tempting, sumptuous dishes. I lost count of the many people seated at tables scattered among the trees.

Jeff was there as one of the entertainers who would perform on the spacious stage. He had asked us to meet him here for the conversation we had arranged when he was in Hedley with his band, the Black Birds. As we were eating, a succession of individuals came around to greet him. Some shook hands, some hugged. It was evident they were delighted to see him. I thought there was a sense of poignant nostalgia in some of the greetings. He was one of them, and yet different.

We learned that music has been a constant thread in most of Jeff’s 53 years and has almost certainly buoyed him and kept him alive. “I play drums, guitar, strings (key board), piano, bass guitar and I do vocals.” He writes much of the music he performs and has produced 2 albums. When the first musicians appeared on stage, Jeff was asked for help with the elaborate sound system.

Now a warehouse supervisor in Keremeos, he earlier worked 10 years at a center for children with mental disorders. “I introduced music therapy,” he said. “I brought in tambourines and shakers and we made music together.” He still cherishes the memory of hearing children say, “I feel like I’m actually worth something.”

He also did music therapy at Portage. “One day I heard a girl singing in her room. She had a beautiful voice. I urged her to come out and sing for everyone. She told me she didn’t sing for people. I offered to accompany her on my guitar and she agreed. She went on to sing ‘True Colours’ at a concert in Vancouver. About 30 musicians came out of my program at Portage. I always recorded them and gave them a copy.”

Personable and energetic, Jeff has loyal friends and has enjoyed considerable success as a musician. But, it almost didn’t happen. “My dad left when I was 3,” he said. “I’ve totally lost track of him. Fortunately Mom married again. This man became my father. He was my friend and mentor.”

For reasons Jeff doesn’t fully comprehend, his life began to unravel in his early teens. “I was carrying a lot of resentment,” he recalled. “I got into drugs, anything I could get my hands on.” In 1999 his parents intervened. They brought him home to their farm.

“I continued with the drugs though and hid this for 2 years. Later people in Cawston told me they knew. They accepted me anyway. During that time I teamed up with a friend and started the Black Birds band. Then my father died at age 56. He was my rock. With him gone, that was it. I couldn’t do anything. I crashed.”

A friend came looking for him and found him in a drug house. “I was lying on the floor. He took me away from there.”

In 2001, at age 38, he understood his life style was leading downward to certain failure and destruction. This wasn’t what he wanted. Within him was a desire to do something of value with his musical talent. He entered treatment at the Cross Roads Centre in Kelowna. This cleared his thinking. It was after this that he produced the 2 albums, worked with mentally disadvantaged children and then persons with addictions. He has written and performed numerous songs. When his mother died 3 weeks prior to our conversation, he wrote a song for her. It says in part, “Images of you in my heart, keep me satisfied.”

Jeff’s life experiences enable him to write realistically about addiction and homelessness. “My message,” he said, “is that sometimes when you are knocking on a door, asking for help, people don’t understand. Keep knocking and in time someone will answer.”

Recently Jeff Lakey auditioned successfully with an all-star band in Vancouver. He’ll have a bigger stage for his message. The people in that Cawston orchard will be cheering him on.

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3 THOUGHTS ON “JEFF LAKEY, HEALING WITH MUSIC”

  1. Pingback: Jeff Lakey, Healing With Music – Hedley BC
  2. DaleRock on. — foreverREPLY
  3. John maynardI’ve known you for a lifetime, through many ups and downs and even at your lowest you have always had a heart that expands to whatever environment you found yourself in…you are an inspiration to all that know you and your message will live on forever my friendREPLY

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“First you jump off the cliff, then you develop wings on the way down.”
Ray Bradley

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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings Stress

Brain Fatigue

I often try to explain to people how I go along on any given day, having no trouble with my dementia symptoms. Suddenly, though without warning my brain becomes fatigued. The fatigue overtakes that I can be full of energy one moment and the next be exhausted and needing to rest or sleep. My husband and I talked about this just this morning as the fatigue hit yesterday afternoon with a thud. I hate when these things happen, but I have learned they are part and parcel with my dementia.

Wayne watches me closely, I don’t have to tell him, he keeps an eye on me without ever being intrusive or without making me feel like I am being monitored. I feel so fortunate to have the kind of support and help if I need it. I appreciate that he doesn’t try to stop me from doing things, he knows I won’t do anything ( at least at this stage), that would be unsafe, or that I didn’t feel it was manageable from simple things like cooking to driving. It is also because of his willingness to help me that I can be doing so much of what I always loved, like cooking. This past few days, we spent a full day in the kitchen, we filled the freezer with healthy home cooked neaks, soup, chili, roast beef dinners, chicken dinners and muffins. Days that I don’t feel up to cooking we are covered, and having a husband that is willing to navigate the kitchen with me allows me to continue doing things. So yes, it’s true love makes all the difference.

Fall/ winter is also more challenging for me and my brain, the low pressure systems create headaches, brain fog, 🧠, so having the support to get through the winter months, means I will likely do better this winter than in winters past.

So it’s important that people understand that yes even weather can effect a person’s brain, and for those with dementia we are and most are aware of how it effects them even if they may not be able to explain it.

Our brain is our operating systems and when something causes it to not operate it the way we want, it can be frustrating for the person effected as well as those who care about them. I am just hoping to get through the winter without it causing too much chaos for me, and I am grateful for the love of my husband, who makes it all easier.

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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings

November 2023

Wayne and I enjoying our day of Exploration

Can’t believe I have Been writing blogs and advocating for as long as I have. I know I am not writing as often as I did, mainly because the things are in my head that I want to write about but I struggle to get them onto paper or I guess not paper but onto the right page. So things sitcandxseim about or get forgotten until suddenly here I am writing again. It is also in part because of many life changes and I can only manage so much, my advocating is keeping me extremely busy. So tonight I thought I would share a little of the things I have been up to and share some insight into myvadvocating work. I am also over the next while going yo be publishing here some of my blogs that have been sitting as drafts for a year or more.

So as most of you know, last January the love of my life, who. I married at 16, he was 18, and I reconnected, we knew instantly that we still lived each other. We often talk about and marvel at how deep our love for one another had to have been even all those years ago, in order to still be there over 40 years later, and after much life we both lived and the endured in the years in between. So after almost a year back together. Recomitted to our marriage, life is fuller than I could have ever hoped for. So much joy, so much happiness, so much understanding of the importance of this gift given to us to be together. Committed to make the absolute most out ofceach dsy we have together. We both feel better physically and emotionally, and people tell us how good we both look now. We also are not foolish enough to try to say we have not had to work through a lot over this year we have, but our commitment to each other has made it easiet to navigate the challenges life throws our way. including my dementia and my many complicating health factors, from my stroke to my heart issues. But one thing I know of with 100 % certainty is that in my husband, I have a safe haven for it all. He has been willing to navigate the tough days, the brain fogs, the bad episodes, like the one outside of Prince George where he thought I was going to die on the side of the road. It terrified him. I hate him having to navigate my vascular issues and my vascular dementia. But his love for me runs so deep. He is willing to walk alongside me every step of the way, to have his love and support, to have him understand, and say that we support each other, we help each other. I am deeply grateful that his love will carry me through the rest of my life. I had in the past spoken about how it was probably better to be on my own as I was for so long. I also spoke about still having hope to have love like this despite my illness. I can say now without a doubt that having a partner, someone to share all the joy, all the hardships with to have and be connected, to feel loved and cared for is better to help us live more fulfilling lives than anything else. Wayne slso knows being put in nature where it is calm, peaceful, is one of the best things for me. We spend our free time fishing, we bought a small fishing boat, we are rock hounding and looming for earth’s treasures, gold panning, petrified wood, fossils so much to uncover, and we both thrive out there. We are happy together, know living the life we always wanted to have together. So never give up, never quit believing, because you never know when all your dreams will come true. As for my health, many, many good days and some bad days, some really difficult challenges, but I don’t worry as much knowing Wayne will be there and he helps me overcome the fear when it grips me. Overall, my doctors are extremely happy with how I am doing even they say love is the best medicine, I couldn’t agree more.

Know that I’ve updated you on the personal front, my advocacy work continues, and I work extensively with the CCNA ( Canadian Consortium on Neurodegenerative in Aging), so a lot of research work. I am a me.ber of their EPLED Team, we work along side research groups, researchers, government, and other organizations, and have been instrumental in making huge in roads and changes, that know see researchers having people with lived experience as co- colaborators in their work. I’ve been to conferences in Toronto twice in this year and in Montreal. I am working with Dr. Eric Smith, out of the University of Calgary, with their VAST Team, which also has me working on a documentary, which will be doing filming later this month. I am also talking at their conference in Banff Alberta in May. The work they are doing is specific to brain health/ including vascular dementia, as well as heart/ stroke and the connections there in as well as the connection to M.S. I will be speaking in Cawston BC on Dec 5th at Row Forteen at a special event/ memory cafe, helping reach the smaller communities. Doing these types of events is very special to me. I will also be at the CCNA conference in March in Montreal. Still working with the Driving with Dementia team, as well as just completed working with the Essai group, along side Radiologist, Neurologists, MRI Tech’s etc, working on how to improve the health care system so that as treatments come on board people can actually get the adequate tests in the tome frames needed so they can actually access these treatments. That was an incredible week.

So, as you can see, I am staying engaged, still doing my best to make a difference for others, but also trying to ensure my priorities are that my husband and I live our life together fully. He must come first with me and vice-versa. We want to have as much joy and happiness as we can with one another.

So wherever you are now that I am here, reach out anytime, even though I am not writing as often I am still here to help.

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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Good Grief Living well with Dementia Silver Linings Stress

The Importance of Connection

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

This post is a draft from 2021, This post is for you Janet Douglas.

This morning much too my delight, I received a video call from a friend who also lives with dementia, she is in Scotland to visit her mother. Now a little history, her and I have never met in person, yet we have a connection, a friendship that is the type of friendship that warrants a video call even though she’s on the other side of the world on holidays at the moment.
During our conversation today she told me one of the reasons she had to call was because she wanted to thank me, for reaching out and answering her when she was first diagnosed and looking for support. It was through that that she became a member of DAI, it was through that that the friendship blossomed. DAI is often the gateway to connecting people. It affords us the opportunity to meet others who share our journey. It gives us that safe place to share to laugh to cry,. To rediscover who we are after being devastated by receiving a diagnosis. The people we meet, the webinars the cafes, the support groups, they all help us learn to live, to really live, despite our illness. You can attend many groups, work with many organizations, and they all offer certain things, we can gain something from many of them. I have watched as many who came to DAI struggling through the devastation of being diagnosed, feeling lost, alone, their confidence and self worth bottomed out. I have watched those same people flourish and bloom, to go on to do many great things, not only for and as part of DAI, but also to start, or take active roles in other organizations, they have found themselves, reinvented themselves, regained the confidence they had lost and they are doing an incredible things that end up helping others.
And that was what the video call this morning was about, a call to say thank you for reaching out, because while in Scotland it offered her the opportunity to be that for someone else, and so felt compelled to say thank you. I was so moved by that call, we discussed how important those connections we make are, how important and intricate they are to our journey to find our wellness, to our continued well being. We form connections, we find friendships, even with people we haven’t met.
We so often talk about all the things we can do to help us in our bid to live our best lives with dementia, we talk about, rehabilitation, nutrition, exercise, sleep, being mindful. But I believe the often overlooked piece is connections, connections with others.
I am grateful for the friendships and connections DAI has brought to my life, I continue to reach out to others, and have been so grateful to hear on several occasions in the last few weeks from some thanking me and I always hope that they do can offer that someday to someone. Together the impact we have on each other, for each other, priceless. She thanked me for the gift I had bestowed on her which allowed her to be that person for someone else, the connections are truly a gift.
So for Dementia Awareness Month, I challenge you all to think about the friendships and friendships you’ve made, and reach out and offer it up to others, encourage them to join DAI, so they to can go on and be instrumental in all the good that’s being done out there, through DAI and the many grassroots and local groups, and many organizations that are striving to improve the lives of those living with Dementia.
Christine Thelker

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Advocates Advocating Christine Thelker © 2020 Dementia Event For This I Am Grateful Good Grief Life Living well with Dementia Silver Linings Stress

Sunday Thoughts

Well hello everyone, it’s been a while once again, since I’ve written, but here I am on a beautiful Sunday Morning, enjoying coffee and thinking it’s time for a little update.
We will start with the health related things, I have been holding and maintaining very well, for which I will accredit my husband with, for he watches over me and takes such care of me, for which I am ever grateful. I recently had a few rough days, which, brings me to remind everyone to keep a check on these things which can wreck havoc with our brains. Really bad brain fog, many lighting bolts going through my head, truthfully it almost renders you incapacitated. I thought it was just the low pressure system that had moved in, but it was in part that, weather systems can create difficulties with our brain function, but it was more than that, I had or have a sinus infection, due to the air quality, they gave me a steroid spray, which alleviated things somewhat but not enough, I am know on a course of antibiotics and day two of them has already seen a vast improvement. So we must remember when things take a down turn to see what else might be going on, an infection, creates inflammation, both of which create really difficult days for us. So please keep it in mind, it is not just things like UTI’s, which seems to always be the go to thought, any type of infection, can wreck havoc on your system and especially your brain. Luckily for me my husband helped me get through the worst two days, difficult for him, it’s frustrating, for both, but he continues to amaze me in his willingness to do his best to understand my bad days.

Ok, know on to the other things, that being life, yes life, I am living it, making the most of every day, enjoying eve Ty minute life is giving me with my husband and family. Life is so full, it feels rich, it is great to have and feel loved and cared for. I love being out on the road with him, and although it is his life’s work, I help with the parts I can, we have created many wonderful memories, and I hope we get to create many more years of them. Currently I am home, Wayne is out on his own for two trips, as I am readying us for a two week holiday, for which we are very excited. Part of it will be driving many many miles, in our personal truck, versus the work semi truck, we both have a love of the road and driving, we will be visiting family along the way, the second part will find us out in the back country, camping and fishing, again a love of both of ours. So I am here getting everything ready, while Wayne finishes up the work runs before we head off.

So that about sums things up, I hope you are all doing well, enjoying your summer, it’s going by quickly. Being able to be on the road with Wayne has provided me with one of the nicest summers I’ve ever had, again giving me much to be grateful for. Be well, keep living your best life and treasure each moment with those you love.

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Just some Personal Thoughts

Yes it’s been a while again since writing g. It’s not that I am not thinking about everyone and I do keep tabs on how people are doing and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at DAI event next week. I am honored to have been asked to speak. DAI and all its members has it will always be who I will give credit for helping me get my life back after my diagnosis. Helping me regain confidence in myself, helping me find my voice ( although at times some wish there was an off button)..hahaha. Friendships formed for life, opportunities provided. I am forever grateful. I also continue my work with the CCNA and Agewell, both to whom I am grateful for all the eork, opportunities they have provided and I am so very proud of my work within the CCNA and the EPLED group, and the sharing work we have done and the tremendous Impact we have and continue to have on the scientific world. Helping them understand the needs and wants of people with the lived experiences. It truly has given me a very different perspective of their world and learn about the processes of the very important work they do. Again more friendships and connections and being able to be part of so much work that gives me reason to have hope for the future for so many with a variety of types of dementia. I am still maintaining better than hoped for, and I am hopeful it will continue that way for a good long while.

I never dreamed that I could be living my very best life at this stage despite a diagnosis. I have long said we can and should be striving to live our best lives adjusting and adapting as required but not giving up. which can be difficult when you are handed a diagnosis without any resources to help you navigate through those dark days, so I fell fortunate and blessed that DAI, CCNA and others have been so instrumental in my well being.

So as I sign off, until next time we are traveling the Coquihalla highway here in BC and the going to take the 5A highway to change or route up a bit as we head back to Red Deer to pick up another load. Please remember when you are on the highways and byways to not be distracted, stay alert and drive according to conditions. There is far to many distracted drivers. I am ending off with so.e photos from our travels.