A translation

My grandmother is currently suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and both my mother and her sister are caring for her. It is hard on them - in many ways, but in part because they do not understand what the disease means or what my grandmother herself might actually be feeling.

Tiina found a poem online (in 9GAG of all places) that, at least to my mind, seems to communicate the emotions inside my grandmother pretty well:


So - I took the liberty of translating it to Estonian, in the hopes it might help my mother and her sister a little.

Minult mäletamist palun ära oota,
ega mõistmist, raske on ka see.
Mul on jäänud vaid üht asja loota:
kätt mul hoiad sellel raskel teel

Olen lootusetult segaduses, eksind,
Kurb ja haige, meeleheitel ma,
Tahan vaid, et ükskõik mis sel hind,
et sa hooliks, oleks minuga.

Oma kannatust sa ära kaota palun,
ära nuta, ega sõima-vannu ka.
Olen abitu, ning kuigi ära talun,
küll vaid tahaks, kuid ei suuda muutuda.

Palun tea, et väga sind ma vajan,
nüüd kus alles minust üksnes varemed.
Püsi siin, sest seisan vaid su najal,
hooli minust, kuni saad sa veel.

I cried through most of the translation process. Those with family members suffering from the disease - you hopefully understand.