On the morning of April 15, 2018, my father was eating breakfast and my mother called me (Aileen - his first daughter) downstairs to say that he was not making any sense verbally.
My father could pronounce words clearly, but the words that came out of his mouth had no connection to each other. The days that followed, his vocabulary was limited to maybe 20 words. There was a phrase which he would repeat over and over: "One thinks he is correct, but he is actually incorrect." He had lost his ability to communicate.
From that day forward, I observed my dad closely and began to care for him on a daily basis. We no longer allowed him to drive. He had aphasia and could no longer use his smartphone to make or receive calls. He could still read aloud, but could only write his name or write down what I tell him to write. For the following months, I taught him to speak in short phrases, while also witnessing further cognitive and physical declines as a result of multiple mini strokes.
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 3:39 PM
Dad lost his ability to go into the kitchen and to know when it was time to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. He no longer made comments that he was hungry or thirsty.
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 3:21 PM
Dad could still walk and follow me around but could not communicate.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at 8:29 PM
Christmas 2018 was the last time that dad could join us on a 6-hour roadtrip to go to Tempe, Arizona. He could walk around the house at Angie's (his second daughter) and find his way back to his room upstairs. He was very quiet and when he spoke, he could only say short phrases at a time.
Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 5:17 PM
Dad attending a Valentine's Day event. He ate, had a good time, and could reply in very short phrases.
Friday, April 19, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Dad likes to go for walks. I started taking walks with him every day. He would often go to this park and could still cross the familiar residential street safely, even nodding and giving drivers eye contact.
