Widower pens dementia ‘revenge’ book for charity after heartbreak
ALZHEINER’S DISEASE is a cruel and unrelenting condition which gradually robs people of their abilities and their identity.
And for Brian Sugden, who watched his wife deteriorate in the space of just three years, his view is clear: “Dementia killed my wife”, he said.
The 78-year-old, of Cross Gates Leeds, has spoken out to share his heartbreaking experience of losing the love of his life, Audrey, to the devastating disease and has pledged to join the fight for a cure by creating a book in aid of Alzheimer’s Research.
Light in the Darkness, a compilation of poems and short stories written by Mr Sugden, is now on sale, with all proceeds going to the charity.
He said: “It’s in memory of Audrey and if I can play a little part in helping people not to get dementia. It’s probably revenge against dementia I suppose. I don’t want other people to go through what we went through.”
Mrs Sugden died on New Year’s Day, last year, aged 78, with her husband and one of their two sons by her side. The couple had been married for 56 years, after first meeting at a church youth club in 1960.
Church was a major part of both their lives, and Mrs Sugden took on a number of roles at St Wilfrid’s Church in Halton, including church warden, council secretary and baptism visitor.
Mr Sugden said: “Audrey was an incredibly capable person. She was very shy but very determined.”
However, in 2016 she began to have a series of blackouts and would wake up startled. “Whatever had been going on in her mind then was real,” her husband said.
A visit to St James’s Hospital led to the dementia diagnosis, and Mr Sugden took on the role of her carer for the next three years.
Since the 1970s, he had written “daft poems” and short stories “just as a bit of fun” but after receiving some positive feedback he decided to create a book for people to buy in aid of Alzheimer’s Research.
To order a copy, email charley@crossgatesgns.org.uk.