Dear Santa,

You may be surprised to hear from me after all this time. I think the last time I wrote to you was when I was a little girl. This year, though, my wishes have overwhelmed me. I have wishes that span from my beautiful boy Noah across the globe for other babies with dementia and families I have never met. I hope you hear my wishes.

I hope that these wishes make a difference and this letter prompts donations to help children like Noah. Putting these wishes and my story to the world, this is what I have to give.

I wish my Noah could open Christmas presents like he used to.

I wish I knew what to get him, I don’t know if he’ll be able to play with a ball or keyboard for much longer, he is deteriorating so fast. 

I wish my baby boy could still sit up and eat Christmas lunch with me, he used to love the taste of food so much! I wish he could still swallow his food.

I wish my Noah could run and play with his cousins and his family and his friends this Christmas.

I wish he hadn’t lost his words.

I wish, like last year, he could sit up by himself so that it meant he was safe on the ground.

I wish I didn’t have to speak for him, move for him, instead. 

I wish that I didn’t have to understand that my son will never grow up or grow old.

I wish that people would be less frightened of what is happening to my Noah, and more accepting of him.

I wish people didn’t exclude parents like me and children like Noah because they feel they’re going to upset us or it's going to be uncomfortable for somebody. 

I wish that it wasn’t so lonely for kids with dementia, or so isolating for families when their child has dementia.

I wish people understood what we are going through. 

I wish people could see how amazing Noah is. He's always been so funny and so sweet, gentle and kind.

I wish people could see the little Balinese Zen baby that he was and still is.

I wish they didn’t categorize him so easily into the ‘not normal’ and that’s it. 

I wish for a cure, I wish for Noah to live longer, I wish he never had this disease, I wish for him to have the best life possible. 

With all my heart, 

Jane

P.S. Please let Jane know you’ve heard her wishes for Noah and children across the world.

Make a donation this festive season to change the lives of children with dementia now and long into the future. Your donation will help transform research and care for children with dementia.