Rest in peace mum from your loving daughters Carol and Angie. 13 years ago, the only LBD I knew was a Little Black Dress. Then LBD – Lewy Body Dementia became part of our world. Lewy came into Mum’s life – stalking her quietly to begin with. Lewy was a strange little fellow, we didn’t know much about him. To begin with he was someone she chatted with and they shared a different world of manifestations and fun – Mum could be a kid again. • They played dress-up games, where Jeanie would try to wear everything in her wardrobe, in layers, in any order. Who wouldn’t want to wear their pants on their head, anyway!? • Lewy would encourage Jeanie to play hide and seek with other people’s stuff – like a magpie she was attracted particularly to shiny objects. She became a walking cutlery drawer!! • Dusting and cleaning became such fun – with cowboy shootouts, including gunshot sound effects – a can of Pledge in each hand – just like John Wayne. • Lewy and Jeanie’s mischievousness knew no bounds. Unpicking every cushion, she could find … leaving a Hansel and Gretel trail of filling in her wake. • But at last, she had someone to dance with at any time of day or night and brought life to the phrase “dance as if no one is looking”. But Lewy didn’t want to go, he took hold of Mum’s hand leading her away from us. Lewy filled her head with new thoughts, blocking her memories, her abilities and her capacity to own herself. The woman, Sister, Mum and Nana that we knew slowly disappeared before our eyes. Occasionally, but less and less, Mum surfaced from Lewy’s prison: • She’d give you a big radiant smile or she would assert her wishes, by refusing to do something – giving you a Paddington Bear hard stare! • She may tell us a story – which we would join in although we didn’t know the language. • Then sometimes, best of all, she’d call Carol “Mum”, tell her that she “loved her” and would give her a kiss. These moments were the happiest, and saddest, and most difficult to handle because of a yearning for more. It seems to have come quickly in the end. For over 13 years, Lewy took Jeanie’s mind and body. We may wonder “If”, “When” or did we say “Goodbye” and “I love you” enough times to her. I know we did because we still love her now and remember the woman, Sister, “our Mam” and the best Nana that anyone could possibly have. So, the LBD that took hold has finally led us to wearing that Little Black Dress in the end. With a thankful release for Mum, and with celebration of having loved her and having shared our lives with her. A final “Goodbye”, “We Love You” and always will.