My Grandfather

My grandfather was a stationmaster. When I was little, I used to wear his stationmaster’s hat and go bike riding with him. We shared many wonderful memories. When I was in middle school, he was diagnosed with dementia at just 65 years old.

One day, he wanted to read me a book. Even though I was older, he was so happy and proud to read to me. But in the middle of reading, he suddenly forgot the words. Instead of giving up, he tried to explain the story in his own way.

As his memory faded, he kept fighting to stay connected with us. He didn’t want to lose us, even as dementia tried to take over. Sometimes he didn’t recognize me, but when he talked about his grandchildren, I could see that he still remembered us in his heart. I’ll always admire his courage and how hard he fought to hold on to the people he loved.

My Hero, My Grandpa