Sara Pomerantz

A thousand and one losses

The pain of losing someone you love little by little, right before your eyes is a complicated form of grief. We often talk about cherishing our memories and find ways of remembering, but we don’t talk about what it’s like to have to be the keeper of the past, in addition to the myriad of other responsibilities inherent to loving someone with this disease entails. There are a thousand and one losses one must face throughout their battle with Altzeimer’s, as the life they lived fades little by little. Their loved ones not only have to process each of these losses and their own grief, they also have to bear witness to the person they love’s grief. The decision and transition into memory care seems to be among the hardest. I’m doing this event to honor everyone who has experienced this type of loss, especially in honor of one of my best friends and teammate, who is going through this now.. I’m also doing this for the family members I’ve lost to this disease, including my mom’s best friend and cousin, Sandra, who died of Covid and Altzeimer’s just weeks apart from her own mother, who also died from the same. It was during the pandemic, so they died in isolation; perhaps among the loneliest of deaths. I’m also doing this event to show my support for my clients who are supporting their loved ones with Altzeimer’s. It’s amazing how illusory time is; moving so slow and fast all at the same time. Even with all it's messiness and hardship life is so beautiful. Here’s to living in the present and making each day count, whether remembered or not, our experiences lie deep within us and therefor can never truly be lost.