'I really hope she dies soon': son's wish for sick mother
Jack Heath’s mother is dying in one of the most horrible ways imaginable.
She is 58-years-old and has early onset dementia.
Jack has taken a series of harrowing photographs of his mother to highlight the devastating impacts of the disease, in honour of Dementia Awareness Week.
The 21-year-old uploaded the images to Reddit yesterday in a post entitled ‘This is what Early Onset Dementia looks like’.
It has since gone viral online.
In 2007, Jacquie Heath was diagnosed with Picks disease and given anywhere between one year and 15 to live.
Doctors initially thought her uncharacteristic outbursts were side effects of menopause, but the family soon realised something else was wrong.
“About a year and a half later it became clear that there was something else going on,” Jack told news.com.au.
“She got lost trying to pick up my dad from work, which was only a few blocks away from home.”
Jacquie’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
“I always thought dementia and Alzheimers was just for old people," Jack said.
“I also thought it was just about forgetfulness, and didn’t consider the effect it has on the body as well."
Jacquie’s husband now cares for her full-time.
“It’s kind of like watching her age backwards, forgetting how to write and read, not being able to feed herself or go to the bathroom by herself,” Jack said.
“Everything takes so long and it’s kind of like dying, but it’s not.
“The long goodbye’ is a pretty common phrase a lot of people use in this."
Jack said the lowest point was when his mother forgot his name and began thinking he was an “evil devil sort of thing.”
He now calls her Jacquie because she responds better to that than when he calls her Mum.
Jack’s photographs have prompted passionate conversation about degenerative illnesses online and also re-ignited debate about euthanasia.
“One of the big conversations that needs to be had around this is about euthanasia,” Jack told news.com.au.
“Lots of people on Reddit were saying they’d rather put a bullet in their head than go through that, and I agree.
“It’s not a life anymore. It’s put our family through a s***load for someone who’s pretty much a vegetable.
Jack said he’s very happy his photos have helped raise awareness of the issue.
“It’s a huge burden on society not just emotionally, but financially as well.”
“You never want your mum to die, but it would be better than this.”
News break - May 20
