So I wasn't going to post this today but circumstances changed and unfortunately my grandad passed away this morning. Always having been close to him I'm pretty gutted and upset. 

My grandad had amongst a few things alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a neurological disease that slowly damages the brain over time. This normally means that the sufferer forgets people, places and eventually how to do basic things for themselves. My grandad had been suffering with it for years and recently had forgotten people, places and unfortunately how to swallow. 

This week is dementia awareness week. Something I didn't realise until I was researching the illness. Many people out there have friends and family that have experienced this within their lives. 

We were fortunate that my grandad was in an amazing care home with fantastic people around him when we couldn't be there. I had made the decision to not see him close to his death as it upset me that he couldn't recall my name even when prompted. Selfish as it sounds it tore me apart and after losing one grandad I wanted to remember all the good things that we had done together. He was an empty shell of the man that I remembered. One thing I am grateful for is that he met Max. He got cuddles, kisses and Max got to know his great grandad, if only for a brief time. 

I will always remember my grandad. The good and the bad. My hope is that wherever he is, he isn't causing too much mischief and mayhem.