Mia bolted down the long, wet footpath. Shielding herself behind her umbrella, she tried to shelter from the torrential downpour. She tore through the wide double doors at the front of the small, one-storey hospital building her Grandpa lived in. Weaving and darting around nurses and elderly patients as she sped through the brightly lit hallways. Mia was feeling scared and anxious - she didn’t know what to expect. As she breathlessly stopped at the entrance to her Grandpa’s room, she took a deep breath. She was still hoping for the best but, when she stepped inside his room, her heart stopped beating. She didn’t know how to react...

Mia had been too young to notice how much her Grandpa was changing as she was growing up. Mia’s mum often told her stories about the fun Mia and her Grandpa had enjoyed together when she was little: going to the beach and looking at the fascinating creatures in the rockpools; playing tea parties with her favourite dolls; reading stories to her before she went to bed and him even dressing up in a frilly princess dress! She loved looking back at photos of her and her Grandpa from those happy times. He looked so different in those photos. She can’t remember him talking or his smile ever being that bright! He used to stand up so straight and he looked so strong and happy in those photos. Mia often wished to have that version of her Grandpa back.

Since her Grandpa was diagnosed with dementia he had slowly changed - he had only got worse. First, he began to forget things. Then he started to get confused and get his words muddled up until he was not able to speak at all. Then came the physical changes. At first, he couldn’t stand for long periods of time. Then he started to get wobbly on his feet and needed help to get up from sitting to standing. When he needed to use a walker to be able to get around easily and needed help eating, he had to move into a care home because Grandma couldn’t look after him anymore.

It had been five years since her Grandpa became sick. Five long years of him being stuck inside his own consciousness - not able to express himself the way he used to. Mia loved to visit her Grandpa but, at the same time, she hated seeing him in that state. He just looked so hopeless. Mia would often think about what that would feel like. It must have been so scary and confusing. She wondered if he recognised her?

Now, she was standing in his room shocked.

As she looked over to his bed she saw him lying peacefully, eyes closed. Her emotions were a mix of shock, worry and sadness.

Her parents arrived moments later. When they had got the call that Grandpa had passed away they had driven quickly, but in silence, to his care home. Mia had sprinted from the car without waiting for her parents. Now they came together, embracing and quietly sobbing. A river of tears formed.

Slowly, Mia’s shock settled and her heart rate and breathing returned to normal. She began to think about all the fun they had experienced together and all the amazing memories she had. Mia walked over to Grandpa’s side for the last time. He is in a better place now. He was resting peacefully.

Grandpa had changed a lot since she was little but Mia’s love for her Grandpa would never change.