Thank you. Thank you for the memories that you have left me with. Thank you for being the one who gave me my first piece of chocolate even though mom said no. Thank you for teaching me to say bag with a different accent. But most of all thank you for making me the women I am today.

I know that you don't remember any of these memories that I talk to you about, but they've become my favorite ones. All the times you took me swimming and walking to the park and even when you bought me new toys when I already had a billion of them. You taught me to be strong, but you also taught me to be kind to everyone. When we first found out about the Alzheimer's it didn't seem real, you were still you and only forgot silly things, like the time and what day it was.

But as the years have gone on, you've forgotten more and more, even that you have children and grandchildren. But even with this disease eating away at your brain, there are still parts of you that are there. Your silliness comes out every once and awhile, your love of laughter is still there too and on a good day, you even know my name. Throughout the years we've watched you forget more and more but you refused to let it get to you. you still lived at home with Grandpa and did everything that you could for as long as you could.

But it finally caught up to you and now you need help with almost everything, but that's okay. Because you raised me and bathed me and even tied my shoes, so here I am doing the exact same for you with as much love and kindness that you always showed me.

Thank you, Grandma, for it all. Not only loving and caring for me but for shaping who I am as a person, for making me the best version of myself that I could possibly be. Thank you for staying strong through it all, for still loving life even through the disease.

I love you Grandma and thank you.