Donna Johnston

My nanna ❤️

❤️ A little walk for my nanna… and for everyone living with dementia. ❤️

Some of you may know that my nanna, now 92, was sadly diagnosed with dementia a good few years ago.

Nanna was your typical Scot — feisty, stubborn, hilarious, and the woman who could do absolutely anything. She would put her hand to anything and give it a go.

I remember telling Nanna, who was about 72 at the time, that I’d love to try Pilates. So, naturally, Nanna put on the only pair of leggings she owned, her old lady pumps, and came along with me. I still have the image of her attempting to get her legs over her head! 😂

Nanna was the person we called when we thought Mum and Dad were being particularly unfair. She was also the person I called when, at about 13 years old, I sliced my thumb (almost completely off 😬) doing an exercise video in the living room… after Mum had specifically told us we weren’t allowed to!

Nanna was always there.

She baked cakes for charity, weddings and birthdays and made the most incredible chocolate crunch, concrete and honeycomb. She made the best packed lunches for school, always with far too many treats.

Stacey and I would spend weekends at Nanna’s, consuming what was probably close to an entire bag of sugar in her bed while eating French toast,in which most of it remained in nannas bed  as Nanna ran up and down the stairs bringing us another fresh, hot batch. Then we'd watch Blind Date or Dirty Dancing and have garlic bread for supper, made in Nanna’s combi microwave — the instructions for which had to be retrieved from their special plastic wallet every single time! 😂

These are the memories I treasure.

And as I’m writing this, it sounds a little like I’m writing a eulogy — but I promise, my nanna is very much still with us. ❤️

I support Nanna on an almost daily basis to help her remain safely and comfortably in her own home. But the person Nanna was when I was growing up isn’t quite the same Nanna we have today.

There are still little glimmers of my old Nanna, particularly when it comes to family and the joy she gets from the little ones. But sadly, those moments can sometimes also bring confusion and frustration for her.

Nanna is now at the point where she relies on support for around 99% of her daily tasks.

Dementia doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. It affects the whole family, and watching someone you love slowly lose parts of themselves is incredibly difficult.

So, I’ve decided to raise some money for dementia — by doing something I can actually manage at the moment…

Walking. 🚶‍♀️❤️

Being just three months postpartum means I probably can’t throw myself out of a plane again to raise money 😂, or do anything particularly adventurous!

So instead, I’m going to get my walking shoes on. Luca will be joining me for almost all of the walks, and I’m sure Aria will want to come along for some little walks too when she’s not at school.

It might not be the most extreme challenge, but it means a lot to me.

It’s for my nanna.
For the woman who was always there for me.
And for all the families living alongside dementia.

Thank you for reading my little trip down memory lane. ❤️

If you’re able to donate, no matter how big or small, I’d be incredibly grateful.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this would mean just as much.

Thank you ❤️