If you have lived with or had a relative with dementia, you know that the same conversation can and usually happens over and over again in the span of 10 minutes. God bless my father's father and my mother's mother who had suffered and is suffering from the disease. Spending time with a loved one with dementia is hard to describe.
Now imagine being trans and having a parent with dementia. Coming out turns into an every day occurrence.
Tina Healy is an Australian transgender woman, who’s part of a long line of impressive women. First, there’s her daughter Jessica Walton, who recently crowdfunded and published “Introducing Teddy,” a children’s book about a transgender teddy bear. Then there’s Healy’s mother, who despite suffering from dementia, she hasn’t let that stop her from being compassionate and accepting.
During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about the book, she discussed what it was like to come out to her mother the first time. Healy recalled, “She said, ‘I’ve got a beautiful new daughter.’”
Now with her mother’s progressive memory loss, they both repeat this moment about 100 times a year. “She gives me just the same beautiful reaction that she did exactly the same, almost word for word every time,” Healy said. – www.mtv.com
Here is the part of the ABC 24 story on Tina's daily coming out process.
Bravo to Tina's mom for being a supporter of her new daughter. Tina's story doesn't start or end there. For the entire ABC 24 story, click on the image below to be redirected to Tina's full interview.
Thanks Tina for sharing your uplifting story.
Unfortunately, I am sure there are stories that are the exact opposite of Tina's experience.
Do you have a parent with dementia that you have to come out to every day?
Do you choose not to come out because how they handled it the first time?