Wendy Mitchell isn’t much concerned with what she can’t do; she’s far more
focused on what she can, and she has certainly done a lot. Since being diagnosed
Mitchell has written a book (with the help of an editor who emailed her every day
with support) and her debut Somebody I Used to Know featured on the
Sunday Times Bestsellers list and remained there for five weeks.
Mitchell has found many innovative ways to cope with dementia, like unscrewing
the doors from her kitchen so she doesn’t forget what’s in the next room, and
photographing the contents of her kitchen cupboards and pinning them to the
outside. But it was her innovative attitude that shone through in her talk. She
acknowledged, “the loss of the old me but more importantly the birth of the new
me."
She spoke poetically about simple moments in her life like appreciating the sight
of the moon, suggesting that just because she can forget what it’s called doesn’t
make it any less beautiful.
“Language can make or break someone,” Mitchell said, referring to the harsh
sentence used by her doctor, but it also alludes to the success of her book.
Decca Aiktenhead, The Guardian journalist hosting the event asked Mitchell what
she would remember from the talk. Mitchell said she wouldn’t be able to recall
the questions and said “It’s the feelings I remember”, and the feeling in the
packed room, as everyone rose to a standing ovation was one of deep respect and awe.
If you missed this you might like to go to Waiting For The Last Bus: Reflections on Life and Death at 2.30pm on Sunday, 3 June