I knew I had A Father that dementia couldn’t steal away..

I knew I had a Father..that Dementia couldn’t steal away…

By Brooke Jackson 

As a young girl until the age of 5, my biological father saw me maybe twice.. that I remember..

But at the age of 7 I told my mom…I wish I had a Dad.. She prayed with me every night for me to have a Dad.  She said GOD gives Dad’s like he gives Mom’s and GOD.. did just that for me..

HE GAVE ME…SGT. Brian Jackson..

At the age of 8, My parents got married and My Dad became my Dad even to this present day.

I knew I had a Father…when he stood on the Bus Stop with me every morning, waving 👋 see you later and returned to that same bus stop at the close of my school day waiting patiently to take me home.

I knew I had a Father… when he came to every school PTA, volunteered for every event and sat in the audience ..smiling and taking pictures…when I walked across every stage when graduation ing from Middle School to High school to College .

I knew I had a Father…when we got caught in the rain and he would put his oversized coat on my small shoulders to shelter me from the storm.

I knew I had a Father when the first boy showed interest in me and Dad had a lot of questions.

I knew I had Father when Dad taught me and my sister Brandy how to drive and purchased my first car.

I knew I had a Father when I expressed I wanted my first apartment and Dad showed worry about me being alone.! So he found me and my sister Brandy, apartments right across from each other.. he felt the 2 of us could watch out for one another.. trying to keep his girls safe.

I knew I had a Father when, Dad showed fear of me wanting to move to Nashville. And he didn’t want to stop me but struggled with words.. like I rather you not…. but instead he set me up financially and went with me to find a place. But when I looked in his eyes and saw that his memory of me could fade away …I decided my job was with the strong Sgt., and the man I called Dad.

I Knew I had a Father.. in 1993…when Dad signed my birth certificate..PROCLAIMING to the world I was his and he was mines. 

I knew I had a father..when I watched him take care of my mom and us.. and we never wanted for NOTHING!

So it gave me great pleasure and honor to take care of my Dad when he fell ill.. with Strokes and Dementia….because I knew I had a Father..

Thanks Dad, I am forever your daughter.

My mom and I joined the fight against Alzheimer's by creating an online tribute page in my loved one's honor. By taking this step, I'm raising funds to support the critical work of the Alzheimer's Association: providing care and support for families, advancing promising research and offering a lifeline through their free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). Every dollar raised helps ensure that no one faces Alzheimer's alone.

I'd be so grateful if you would make a gift in honor of them. It would mean a lot to me and those facing this relentless disease. 

A future without Alzheimer's is out there. Let's get there, together. 

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.