'This is what dementia looks like': Son documents mum's deterioration in 11 touching photographs

Jacquie Heath's heartbreaking story has been told in these 11 simple pictures spanning 10 years of her life

A man's photo essay documenting his mother's battle with early onset dementia has gone viral after touching the hearts of Reddit users this morning. Jake Heath, 28, from Sydney in Australia, posted a series of photographs showing the gradual deterioration of his 58-year-old mum, Jacquie, who was diagnosed with Pick's disease in 2007.
Jacquie first started showing symptoms of the condition, which is a form of dementia, 10 years ago - but her confusion and emotional changes were originally misdiagnosed as menopause.

1. 'This was taken in 2005 or so. At this point, Jacquie had Pick's Disease, but it had been misdiagnosed as menopause. She would be about 48 here.'

Jake Heath shared the story of his mother Jacquie who suffered from early onset dementia

Jake told Mirror Online: "When we first heard of mum’s diagnosis it was heartbreaking. My parents were living in Toronto at the time, and [my sister] Zoe and I were sharing a unit here in Sydney.
"Dad called me at work and told me to Skype him as soon as Zoe and I got home - didn’t matter what time. The call was very blunt. He said: 'Your mother is going to die.'

2. 'On the beach, around 2010. Lots of Jacquie around. She can't remember too much though.'

Jake Heath shared the story of his mother Jacquie who suffered from early onset dementia. Pictured - Jacquie in 2010

"At the time I didn’t believe it. Zoe cried, but mum reassured her that it was ok and ‘all part of God’s plan’. Since then it’s been entirely surreal.
"The thing with Pick’s disease is that it has some very obvious stages. It’s always the stages that get to me the hardest, whether it’s paranoia, or forgetting names, forgetting how to eat, etc.

3. 'Riding on the back of dad's bike was one of her favourite things to do. This had to stop in 2011, when a paranoia attack nearly caused an accident.'

"Her condition is now the worst it’s ever been. Six weeks ago she stopped walking, whereas previously she would spend all day hobbling around the living room.
"She also stopped being able to eat solid foods and is now on pureed. It’s like she has aged backwards.

4. 'Beach-time walks. Weight is falling off. Conversation is non-existent.'

"Life for the family now is surprisingly not that bad. Dad is a 24/7 carer for her, but he also has a lot of help from the government.
"I go down to Batemans Bay (where my parents live) to visit every six weeks or so. I think Zoe finds it harder, being a new mother and not having her own to guide her.

5. 'The birth of her first grandchild. She had been looking forward to being a grandmother for years.'

Jake Heath shared the story of his mother Jacquie who suffered from early onset dementia. Pictured - the birth of Jacquie's first grand child

"Dad is a very strong and resilient man. His day-to-day is looking after her, but he has mentioned a few times to me that as long as he keeps his attitude in check he’s ok.
"And that attitude is one of doing what’s best, being easy on yourself, and just getting on with it.

6. 'Still knows how to party. #yolo.'

"Dad and I were never too close when I was growing up, that has since changed massively. I believe it is the same for Zoe."
In a short film Jake made documenting his mother's illness, his sister Zoe said: "Having become a mother, knowing that my little boy won't know what she was like has made me really want to be able to tell him about her.

7. 'Cuddles with her 14-month-old grandson. He's very careful with her, knows she's special.'

Jake Heath shared the story of his mother Jacquie who suffered from early onset dementia. Pictured - Jacquie with her 14 month old grand child

Zoe continued: "He won't get to know her at all. He just knows this shell of a person that he knows to call 'Nana' - and he knows that she's special, but that's it."
In the same video, Jake says: "If she was herself for the next two minutes, I would tell her I loved her, I'm sorry this is happening to you, i'm sorry you're not around to see who I've become.
"Then I suppose I would ask if she knows anything that is happening to her."

8. 'She doesn't walk very much anymore. And she has lost a large amount of weight.'

Jacquie's husband Tim said: "The journey I'm on at the moment, it's the long goodbye. It's been happening since 2007, so for seven years she's been slowly losing function and capability.
"I haven't had a conversation with her in years where she's actually said anything that's made sense."

9. 'Fun times at the beach. She's 58 here. Her eyes aren't always open, and if they are, she's staring into the void.'

Jake Heath shared the story of his mother Jacquie who suffered from early onset dementia. Pictured - Jacquie aged 58

Tim continued: "When you've been doing it for this long you'd sort of rather it would have been something quick, like a car accident or something. At least it's quick and you can move on."

10. 'Sometimes we'll move her to beanbags on the floor.'

Heartbreakingly, the family have spoken openly about how they have 'prayed for the end.'
Daughter Zoe said: "It's what we pray for every day. That she can just go home and be at rest. And that the rest of us can have some closure."

11. 'She still smiles and laughs sometimes. I have no idea why. I really hope she dies soon.'

When Mirror Online asked Jake if he could give one quote to sum up his family's journey, he said:
"The silver-lining of this illness is that it has brought us closer together as a family, and it has given us a chance to love Jacquie the way she loved us."