Writing 101: Lost and found – Forget me not

There were two of us at the front office counter that morning.  Most of the officers had gone out on their patrol duties.

My colleague was on the phone with the owner updating the status of a stolen car.  All incoming calls went into the 111 call centre and our job was mostly follow up cases and face to face incidents where things were found by locals and brought in to us or at times someone may have caught a thief and pulled him or her in.  Everyday is different, some days someone may bring in a puppy or a cat, a wallet or a cellphone or a camera.  The list is endless.  Sometimes we may get the odd couples fighting their way to the police station !

It was a chilly morning.  A man in a business suit came in with a lady wearing a button-front blouse and pants.  I noticed her buttons were done the wrong way, missing one so one side of the front was longer than the other.  Her hair was in a mess and she was carrying a plastic bag with a loaf of bread.

” I found her wandering in the main street asking me to take her home.  She doesn’t know where she lives.”

I took down the man’s name and contact number and thanked him for bringing her in to us.

The lady did not talk much.  She appeared to be in a shock and looked very lost.  She did not even know her own name or her home address.  She indicated that by shaking her head.  All she said was

“My granddaughter is at home.  I need to get home and make her breakfast.”

Luckily she had her purse and we managed to track her community card and contacted her daughter who was out in the streets looking for her.  She apologized and said that possibly her mother may have signs of dementia but they did not realized it was so bad.

The early signs and symptoms of dementia may be very subtle and hard to recognise. If you think you or someone you know is showing signs of dementia, it’s very important to see a doctor as soon as you have any concerns.

Below is a Thai commercial video about showing the love and care the husband has for his wife who is suffering from dementia.

Lost and found.  Forget me not.

 

 

 

via Writing 101 : Third Time’s the Charm

Today, imagine you work in a place where you manage lost or forgotten items. What might you find in the pile? For those participating in our serial challenge, reflect on the theme of “lost and found,” too.

via Writing 101: Third Time’s the Charm.