‘I took up running to cope with my dad’s loss of life and to stop Alzheimer’s coming for me’ | EUROtoday

It was the small issues at first, says Stuart Lambie. His father, Ian, would ask a query after which repeat it, minutes later, seemingly with no recollection of it having already been answered. “It was my wife, Hazel, who noticed first,” explains Stuart, “but gradually it became obvious that something was going on.

“I’d have described my dad as a very gentle man,” he continues. “He was an incredibly kind and supportive father to my sister and me.”

Growing up in Glasgow, Ian had served within the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War and loved a profession with British Rail earlier than organising his personal development firm. “He was fit, active and sociable and had many friends,” Stuart provides.

However, dwelling almost 300 miles away in Shropshire, Stuart grew to become extra frightened about his dad. “I suppose I didn’t want to admit to myself what was happening,” he says, “and I felt bad that we weren’t closer. But when my parents came down for a visit in 2011 it was obvious that something was very wrong with Dad’s memory.”

Married since 1954, Stuart’s mother and father have been an in depth couple. Now his mum, Netta, was additionally frightened. “We agreed that I would talk to him and try to persuade him to seek medical help. So, one morning at breakfast, when there was no one else around, I broached it. It’s probably the toughest conversation I’ve ever had in my life,” he provides.