Tribute to my dad & my heart doctor! is the article I wrote for the June 2021 issue of the magazine “Communication about Alzheimer's disease”.

“*In memory of Andreas P. Michaelides (Associate Professor of Cardiology, First University Cardiology Clinic, Hippocrates Hospital of Athens)*

I remember like it was yesterday when my dad was diagnosed with dementia.

I knew from him, as he was a doctor, that dementia is incurable and that at some point the person passes away because in the final stages they refuse to eat.

When I heard the neurologist tell us the diagnosis, all the negative thoughts went through my mind, especially the worst one, that my dad would "leave".

I asked the neurologist if there was any treatment - even if it was experimental - and how many years it would last for me, and she always told me...

"Look to enjoy these moments and try to accept that she is suffering from dementia, because you are young and you need to be strong."

At first, this answer made me angry.

But how can I be happy and stay calm and make a decision?

My studies in Social Theology, as well as at the Gennimata Hospital of Athens in the Specialty of Special Diseases Neurology-Psychiatry, as well as the fact that my dad was a doctor, helped me become stronger.

For more than 4 years with my dad's health problems, I tried as much as I could to be by his side and provide him with the best quality of life.

On the other hand, during my two and a half years of practice and training at the hospital, I loved my patients and wanted to help them get well.

I wanted to make them genuinely smile, even just a little, like I did to my dad every day.

I got involved in Neurology because I wanted to help other patients and relatives cope with the new realities of neurological diseases, but also to help them as best I could.

After all, the promise I made to my dad was to always take care of my patients.

As a caregiver, it was my honor to help my dad as much as I could, just as he did when I was sick.

To caregivers who are taking care of their own loved ones, I will only say to have strength and if they feel the need to seek help from a specialist, to do so, there is no shame.

Personally, my dad's doctors - regardless of specialty - helped me realize that at some point he would "go away."

I hope that in the future there will be no such illnesses that deprive you of your loved one.

For my dad,

For all those patients suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer's,

For all those caregivers who fight every day for their loved ones, but also to stand on their own feet,

For all those patients I helped and are now well,

For those patients who "left" in my arms and I cried with their relatives

Tina (Panagiota) A. Michaelidou Theologian-Nursing Assistant-Author”

Tribute to my dad & my heart doctor! and Words from the heart…