The Daily Mail ran a two-page digest of The Little Girl In The Radiator yesterday. The standfirst to the print version included the above line, which will certainly make it onto the jacket of the reprint.
Some of the comments below the online version are well worth reproducing.
What a beautiful article. Sometimes the only way to deal with heartache is humour…
This story bears an uncanny resemblance to my own dear dad’s journey through dementia. I’ve laughed and cried reading this very touching and incredibly honest account…
I never cry at anything but I’m here sobbing like a baby…
How sad, but what a lucky lady to have a son who cared about her so much…
Beautifully written, Martin… I’m glad that you found out that once you joined your Mum in her world, and stopped trying to use “normal” reason or rationalisation that we without dementia use to make our world work, the two of you found a way to get through the days… I’m glad that her hallucinations didn’t cause her unhappiness, and that you were able to identify the little girl in the dark radiator – a fitting euphemism for dementia…
It makes such a change to read a touching, heartfelt article… Although terribly sad for the victim and their families, as a psychologist I find the intriguing symptoms of the disease fascinating, as is often the case the only way to help is through extreme love, patience and positive regard. Well done Martin…
I worked in a care home and looked after a 101 year old with this disease and every time I went in to her she would ask for her mum and where her eggs were. I was only 18 and the time and it was heartbreaking… This is one of the best articles I’ve read in this paper. Well done Martin…
I feel very honoured and humbled to read such a touching personal story…Thank you…
I don’t think I have ever cried as much as I did reading this. Beautifully written and astonishingly honest…
My Beautiful wife Marilyn has her carpet already three quarters rolled up..
Thank you Martin for the insight to her journey.
Thank you I am currently working with people that have no choice but to live with this horrible cruel disease your story has allowed me to be more understanding and I will certainly allow them to live in their moment not in the moment that I tink they should be in good luck to you, your mother was truly blessed to have raised such a wonderful son you are a credit to your parents
i started to read the little girl in the radiator yesterday ands could not put it down, it made me laugh, cry and gave me so monay memories of specail moments i have had with people who i have looked after with dementia. martin you did a fantastic job for your mum, she would have deeply loved you for it. i am going to make sure all my staff read it in the home that i have managed for the last 20 years
Thank you all – much appreciated.