My dear sweet ayoh
our grandpa, who we lovingly call him ayoh, is 78 years old. He’s a sweet gentle kind of person, that soft spoken kind, and we all ( his cucus’) are very2 fond of him.. but for the late 2 years, he’s not being himself anymore.. he can’t remember our names and fail to recognize familiar people and places. Forgetfulness begins to
interfere with his daily activities. He used to be kaki masjid, but right now he can’t even pray. Our beloved Ayoh is in middle stages of Alzheimer Disease. Yes, there’s just no cure for that and my heart aches a lot to hear his deterioting without me being with him. Without our grandma’s help, he may
forget how to do simple tasks like brushing their teeth or combing
their hair. He can no longer think clearly. He begin to have problems
speaking- finding the usual word to convey his usual need- understanding, let alone reading, or writing.
He’s just like a child right now. He forget the things we tell him just seconds after. He even forget whose grandma is sometimes, his wife for almost 55 years! But there’s a person who he always call far- his late mother, mek- his memories always go back to his younger times- telling us his home is in tumpat, not KB where his house is now. He thinks his young- 
in his 20s and not married yet..he learned english during the british era, and despite his condition now, he still speak simple english with me! in the morning i ask him, how do u do ayoh? his answered ‘i;m fine’ - in the noon i ask him again- he answered- i’m good- in the evening- i’m ok ..
once my aunt - ciksu- told me when i called her in tganu " ely, do u know that ayoh always look at the family picture frames on the table ? and one nite, he took one frame and hug it in his sleep. guess whose picture it was? it’s your graduation picture" and i just cried there n there.
and at one time, a week before i fly to dublin- ayoh went missing, wondered away from home. he was back hours later, a kind hearted stranger brought him back. he told ma the story - he found ayoh wondering around in front of his shop- looking strange, he asked ayoh where’s his going- and ayoh answered - i want to go to KL to send my cucu to england…
ayoh, i’m sorry for not being there to help you..and for ma, please be strong taking care of ayoh. well there’s something that i want to tell both of you here, things that’s difficult to say out loud ( due to cultural preferances) that i love u ayoh n ma so much…
more info on alzheimers here
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/AlzheimersInformation/Symptoms/
