Where are they now? Following up with James McKillop, MBE

A diagnosis of dementia does not have to be a death sentence. There are enough people who have overcome the initial shock of their dementia diagnosis. They find ways to work around obstacles. They learn patience. Yes, it can be frustrating. Yet, they are living purposeful lives. They are living with joy when and where they can. In this spirit, we share an update from James McKillop.

Update from James McKillop Who Lives with Multi-Infarct Dementia

The Caregiver’s Voice featured James McKillop in 2017. He has been living with dementia. After experiencing mini-strokes (TIAs), James was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia. Life has since included a few humbling encounters that this man with an honorary doctorate degree and an MBE (the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) presented by the Queen of England, reflects on with a sense of humor.

James McKillop writes:

My spirit is unbowed. The main asset I have retained is my written communication. So, I continue to churn out articles, which I sincerely hope will help those who follow in my footsteps.

Scotland-based, McKillop desires to lift people’s spirits. Somewhat poetically, he observes, “Where people diagnosed with dementia were together, the overall mood was sombre. They sat round four walls and stared miserable at a spot, in the middle of the floor. Despair hung heavily in the room like a curtain. That was not for me and others. When I ran meetings, people went home in pain—their ribs and cheeks sore from laughing. I ensured that they forgot their problems for a few hours. The feel-good factor I hoped, would last for some time. The big problem was, getting them to go home at the end of meetings.”

McKillop sent us pages of jokes he has been collecting over years. There were so many. I asked him to choose 10 to share. The sources vary and some are edited.

James McKillop, MBE, Lives with Dementia and Shares Humor

A man with two left feet goes into a shoe shop.
“Do you have any flip flips?” he asks.

If you open a can of evaporated milk, how come it’s still there?

I would like to be married to an archaeologist.
The older I get; the more interest they will show in me.

A man went to the optician and complained he kept seeing spots.
“Have you seen a doctor?” the optician asked.
“No”, said the man. “Just lots of spots.”

A golfer came home and is greeted by his toddler.
“Did you win today, Daddy?”
“Well not quite son, but I did get to hit the ball a lot more than the others.”

A short medical student with an attitude and a syringe approaches a patient in bed.
“Not to worry, just a little prick with a needle.”
“Yes I can see that!” says the patient.

A husband stands on the bathroom scale and holds in his stomach.
“That won’t help,” his wife remarks.
“Yes it will,” he replies. “It’s the only way to read the numbers.”

The doctor at the autopsy is instructing his students.
“This is the liver, the heart, and the kidneys,” he intones.
“What’s happening?” whispers a late arrival.
“He’s doing an organ recital.”

A man walks into a pub with a piece of tarmac under his arm.
“A pint for me and one for the road,” he says.

A man went to the bank and asked the cashier to check his balance.
So the cashier pushed him.

3 Bonus Jokes

Of the 14 pages of jokes James sent, I added these three for A Baker’s Dozen.

Mum asks daughter via text, “What do IDK, LY and TTYL mean?”
Daughter texts back, “I don’t know. Love you. Talk to you later.”
Mum replies, “Ok, I’ll ask your sister.”

The car was stuck in a muddy watery hole and a farmer came with a tractor and offered to pull him out for £30, so the driver paid up gladly.
The Farmer said, “This is what I do all day long.”
The Driver asked, “How do you manage to do your work?”  “Oh, I work at night,” the Farmer replied, “filling this hole with water.”

“What do you mean you have only one brother.” asked the judge of the young man? “Your sister has already testified under oath she has two brothers.”

Postscript

When asked, “How are you doing today, James?” he replies, “I live with a deteriorating illness, and I’m getting older. That adage is so true for everyone. Old age does not come alone. While I have sometimes managed to find a way round my dementia problems, physical problems like arthritis, are taking a heavy toll. I can hardly walk now.”