Glasgow girl Sanna Whiteley, 9, is turning a long-held dream into reality by hosting a tea party in honour of her gran to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.
The 79-year-old, a resident of Antonine House Care Home, was diagnosed with dementia in 2013. Though Sanna was only seven when Elizabeth’s condition worsened and she was moved into the care home, she has fond memories of “playing restaurants and cafés” in the garden with her granny, grandpa and younger sister Nuala.
Sanna’s mum, Jill, recounted Elizabeth’s diagnosis and the impact it had on the family.
She said: “We had suspected something was wrong for some time. It was a very challenging time for the family; mum was determined that no-one was to know, and that included me and my older brother. Her friends were also becoming increasingly concerned about her. Unfortunately, my mum doesn’t know who Sanna is anymore, but when Sanna was younger and granny was much more able, they used to spend a lot of time playing together.
My mum had so much patience and Sanna remembers playing restaurants and cafés with granny and grandpa, and her sister Nuala, using toy food and plastic plates.
It’s really sad; because the girls were very young when my mum was diagnosed, it’s hard for them to remember the way she used to be so I keep reminding them granny’s not always been the way she is now.”
Those memories sparked Sanna into action to host her own coffee morning for Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 30 May to 5 June, and she is calling on the support of the public to help her host a Tea & Blether beyond her dreams.
A keen baker, Sanna will entertain around 40 friends and family in the garden and plans to serve up a variety of goodies including scones, brownies, lemon drizzle, gingerbread biscuits, carrot cake - Sanna’s favourite - and, of course, granny’s shortbread.
Elizabeth was a fabulous baker and important member of the local community - hosting her own church bake sales in aid of Cancer Research.
Sanna is now following in her granny’s footsteps, proving traditions live on after a dementia diagnosis.
Lifting the lid on Sanna’s determination, Jill added: “Sanna had a dream during lockdown of hosting a café in the garden and raising money for Alzheimer Scotland so her dream is becoming a reality. It’s quite daunting, but I don’t want her growing up thinking that we just don’t do things because they’re too hard. It’s just a shame that my mum won’t be able to join in the fun.”
You can support Sanna’s Tea & Blether by donating via her fundraising page here.
