25 December 2025
Good Morning Everyone,
I had to write to thank you for all the letters and notes you have sent me, wishing me well for the holidays, for the short notes each day, and for the good wishes that the new medications for Don will work. You have no idea how much I appreciate each one. I am overwhelmed by the warmth and love of our Bird World community. What struck me most is the warmth and caring from so many who are also experiencing very challenging days – parents who have gone into care with dementia, others having chemo and radiation therapy or facing surgeries, and some who will have insurmountable financial obstacles in the new year. I am so very, very touched by your kindness and, yes, your love. I can feel it, and it truly helps me get through these terrible days.
Dementia or Alzheimer’s (they are different) seems to have touched all of our lives. Either a parent or sibling has died or has this terrible disease, or you have known someone with it. Memory centres are full, hospital beds are full, and the holidays seem to be a prime time when mental illness doesn’t go to sleep but starts boiling over for many.
I am happy to say that the additional medication cocktail has kept Don more or less sedated. He went back to bed at noon on Wednesday and didn’t wake up till 1900, when he ate, brushed Toby, talked, and held me, and then was back in bed by 2130. Was he just overly tired? To so suddenly become agitated and violent is very strange, and his doctor certainly thinks that he could have an infection or something. He has been drinking a lot of water, and I wondered if he was dehydrated. We will never know.
I could not go to sleep tonight without reaching out to you to thank you again for your wonderful kindness and to wish you, your family, and your friends and all our pets and raptors a happy holiday.
One of our very talented Bird World community menbers sent this from Japan. Isn’t it marvellous?! Thank you ‘A’.
