Hindi na naitago ng anak ng beteranang aktres na si Caridad Sanchez ang nararamdaman nitong lungkot matapos ibunyag na dumaranas ng dementia ang kanyang ina.
Sa kuwento ng kanyang anak na si Cathy Sanchez Babao, noong huling bahagi ng 2015 nang ma-diagnose na may dementia ang 87-anyos na aktres.
Sinabi ni Babao na bagama’t nananatili raw physically strong ang kanyang ina, paulit-ulit naman daw ang mga sinasabi.
“Once upon a time, shortly after I had graduated from college, I asked her what her dream role was. ‘You know, ang gusto ko talagang role na I portray yung bang matanda na malilimutin na pero pa minsan minsan may moment na nakaka-alala pa sya. Kahit Walang bayad, gagawin ko iyang role na iyan,'” saad ni Babao sa kanyang Instagram post.
Dagdag pa nito: “The ironies of life. One must really be careful of what one wishes for.
“At this point I don’t know whether I should be grateful that she’s now unknowingly, portraying the dream role she had hoped for many years ago.
“Perhaps it will help in the coping, if I reframe things this way. Should I think of it as an answered prayer?”
Inamin din ni Cathy na ito na raw ang pinakamahirap na hamong kanyang hinarap sa buhay, kasunod ng pagkawala ng kanyang anak.
“My mother is fading. Day by day, week by week. It is the most difficult challenge of my adult life, next to losing my son. Anticipatory grief. This is what this is all over again. With my son, we had two whole weeks to fight, to hope, to pray that he would get better. And when he did not, we had a few days to accept and to surrender,” saad nito.
Nagpasya si Babao na magkuwento tungkol sa sakit ng ina upang magkaroon ng public awareness sa dementia.
Batay sa website ng Alzheimer’s Association sa Estados Unidos, ang dementia ay “general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.”
Habang ang Alzheimer’s naman ay isang “degenerative brain disease” na sinasabing “most common cause of dementia.”
Samantala, ipagdiriwang ni Babao ang kanyang ika-56 kaarawan sa darating na Oktubre 16.
Kaya naman, hiniling niya na magbigay ng donasyon sa Alzheimer’s Association.
“I’ve chosen this non-profit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal.
“To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of Dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.”
