Laura Barton’s description of Hannah Peel’s relationship with her gran through music (Waking moments, G2, 23 November) brought back so many memories of my wife’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. Denise died last year having struggled with Alzheimer’s for five years. She had been a music teacher and church organist in her early life but, even though I was able to care for her at home until the end, her memory and recognition failed early on in the disease. However, even when she slept most of the time, hymns would sometimes bring a smile to her lips, not least the weekly Songs of Praise on a Sunday afternoon. Such was the awakening that she would join in with most hymns and was word perfect. As the final credits rolled Denise would close her eyes and return to her abyss of darkness.
Dennis Ruston
Derby
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