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Iron Lady's Daughter Reveals her Mother's Dementia
August 25, 2008 12:38 PM
Eliza Browning, ABC News, London
The daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has just published a book revealing details of her mother’s dementia The book, “A Swim-On Part in the Goldfish Bowl: A Memoir,” describes the Iron Lady’s mental condition, and many believe it offers too many details, too soon.
In an interview about her book this weekend, Carol Thatcher told the Daily Mail that her mother, now 82, is suffering from severe memory loss which has diminished her recollection of major world events.
Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister in 1975, when her daughter was 22. She served on Downing St.as leader of the Conservative Party for 15 years.
In the book, Carol Thatcher describes how her mother confused Bosnia and the Falklands during a conversation about the war in the former Yugoslavia, according to The Guardian newspaper.
"I almost fell off my chair,” she wrote, “watching her struggle with her words and her memory, I couldn't believe it. She was in her 75th year but I had always thought of her as ageless, timeless and 100% cast-iron damage-proof.”
Carol Thatcher said her mother’s memory loss has gradually worsened over the past 10 years. This recent expose may color her mother’s reputation as a solid leader with a sharp memory and an impressive ability to retain and digest large amounts of information.
The woman who had dominated discussions for so long could no longer lead debates or keep up with the thread of a drinks-party conversation. On bad days, she could hardly remember the beginning of a sentence by the time she got to the end," Carol Thatcher wrote.
But British tabloids, often keen to exploit family rifts – especially when they involve celebrities and political leaders - aren’t taking the bait.
In a review of the book, Amanda Platell of the Daily Mail, wrote, “however difficult it must have been at times for Carol to live in her mother’s shadow, I couldn’t help but feel saddened yesterday to discover that she has written an opportunistic book in which she describes the terrible dementia Lady Thatcher is now suffering.”
To me and to many who admired or loved her mother,” Platell continued, “it felt not only like a terrible invasion of an old woman's privacy, but a personal betrayal.”
Margaret Thatcher is still highly-esteemed by the Brits. In July, she made her debut in British “Vogue,” as part of a feature on the celebration of the ageless.
Although she no longer speaks in public, her advisors say her work is confined to maintaining the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, a trust devoted to political and economic causes.
Carol Thatcher, now 55, kept a relatively low-profile while her mother was prime minister. After studying law at University College London, she became a journalist and worked for BBC Radio and The Daily Telegraph.
But her surreptitiousness ended in 2005 when she appeared in, “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here,” a celeb-reality TV show set in Australia. She was filmed going to the bathroom and competing in challenges like eating fish eyes and kangaroo testicles.
At the time, she told the British newspaper, “The Independent,” that although she told her mother she was going to Australia, she did not explain the show because her mother wouldn’t have remembered.”
“It's pointless,” Carol Thatcher told the Independent. “She can't remember the beginning of the sentence by the time she reaches the end."
More than 4.5 million people in the U.S.are living with dementia, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International. And worldwide, more than 24.3 million people are estimated to have the condition.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s, however, are not interchangeable. Alzheimer’s is a disease, whereas dementia is a symptom. The two are often confused because many people who suffer from Alzheimer’s have symptoms of dementia.
The National Institute of Health reports that dementia is caused by changes in brain function; which typically occurs with aging. Symptoms include asking the same questions, becoming lost in familiar places, being unable to follow directions, getting disoriented about people and places and neglecting personal hygiene and nutrition.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? It’s a safe bet that most people know, or know someone who knows, someone living with dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, a leading research organization in the United Kingdom, 42 percent of the British population is affected by dementia through knowing a close friend or family member with the condition.
But not everyone is writing about it.
And although the British public was willing to put up with Carol Thatcher’s exploits in the jungle, they’re less willing to accept anything that will tarnish her mother’s reputation as the powerful Iron Lady she once was.
August 25, 2008 in Eliza Browning | Permalink | User Comments (25)
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I'm afraid the Iron Lady is headed down somewhat the same road as her friend Ronald Reagan. It's sad to see such a stalwart lady become a victim of dementia but time moves inexorably on calling on us all in the end.
Posted by: Bob | Aug 25, 2008 1:11:34 PM
Very sad. This is such a fine lady and a great world leader. I say it's better that if she has to suffer like this, let her suffer with peace and dignity. She doesn't need this kind of publicity.
Posted by: em | Aug 25, 2008 1:22:15 PM
Why her daughter felt it necessary to broadcast this information is beyond comprehension. She is very cruel and I do so hope that the book tanks
Posted by: Ann | Aug 25, 2008 1:34:04 PM
Eliza:
She was NOT elected PM in 1975. She was elected PM in 1979.
Correct this.
Posted by: seth | Aug 25, 2008 1:56:56 PM
What a shame that this daughter has to make her mothers' last days public. This is a very personal journey that her mother has to endure and she deserves only love,support and respect. My mother has the same condition and I would never do this to her as I love and respect her. I too hope this book tanks.
Posted by: Jan Mahon | Aug 25, 2008 2:00:10 PM
I think this daughter needs to give her mother the dignity that she deserves in her reclining years. Why is she exploiting her mother's reputation to make a few bucks for herself. Shame on you. She is your mother, not someone you should malign or degrade. I certainly know that my children would never speak ill of me. They would allow me to go out of this world with the dignity that I have lived here in. So should you. One day you will be old Then we shall see. No one in their right mind should buy your book.
Posted by: Janice | Aug 25, 2008 2:31:48 PM
I'm sorry to hear about Miss Thatcher. I know EXACTLY what her daughter is going through. My mum had dementia/Alzhiemer's; all the same to me and my siblings and I watched go down very quickly. But we were fortunate, mum had the passive side of this horrible disease and she was a sweet as she could be. One thing my mum told me that put things into perspective she said, "I know I frustrate you and your sister because I forget or do something weird. But as much as it frustrates you, it frustrates me even more." You have to stay strong for the person involved and the whole family. My prayers go out to the Thatcher family.
Posted by: Annette Browne | Aug 25, 2008 2:35:01 PM
What an evil woman. Only thing is, she won't remember her evil deeds when she meets her maker.Her and Sadam have much in common.
Posted by: thomas collins | Aug 25, 2008 2:58:43 PM
I hope her book tanks, also. What a vile person, to write about your mother's personal trials and expect to get paid for it. Almost all of the comments here, refelct caring, passionate thoughts. How can you take away her dignity, like this? Don't buy her book, people.
Posted by: Janeyre | Aug 25, 2008 3:15:15 PM
Shame on you Carol!! You did not deserve to have this formidable woman as you mother. Maybe she was less than a perfect mother and yes she has dementia but did you have to let the world know?? And for what - money? By the way Carol. This deases is hereditary...
Posted by: Olga Ma | Aug 25, 2008 3:17:58 PM
my mother is suffering the same fate but my sister and i protect her from intrusion and protect her privacy. a wonderfully strong woman, i will not allow her dignity to be diminished, especially when disease -not her own doing-has brought this frail state of life.
Posted by: r | Aug 25, 2008 3:21:11 PM
Why am I blocked from posting?
Posted by: Jill | Aug 25, 2008 3:21:41 PM
My father had Alzheimers and we loved him, protected his dignity and took care of him until the end. Lady Thatcher deserves better than this. Her daughter is an ungrateful moneygrubber. Add me to the list of those who hope her book tanks.
Posted by: Kathryn | Aug 25, 2008 3:30:49 PM
Believe I was talking about mrs Thatcher and not her daughter.
Posted by: Thomas Collins | Aug 25, 2008 3:43:17 PM
Thomas,
She was only evil to the communists and their sympathizers who had their world domination plans thwarted by Reagan and Thatcher's strength and leadership. God bless both of them.
Posted by: Ray | Aug 25, 2008 3:55:37 PM
Ray
"God bless both of them" who the communists and their sympathizers ? LOL
You obviously didn't live in the UK during
her regime ? She was a tyrant !
Posted by: Thomas Collins | Aug 25, 2008 4:03:42 PM
Carol Thatcher should really be told that discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to revealing details concerning her mother's bout with dementia. I don't think there is any danger in revealing the truth. We all get old, and part of getting old is the decline of our minds and our bodies. There is no shame in that. However, revealing the details of episodes of dementia for entertainments sake or for self-profit is pretty distasteful. I think Carol Thatcher feels like she has something to prove here. I would not think that selling a book would prove her point.
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Aug 25, 2008 4:07:51 PM
This is so sad to hear that Mrs. Thatcher has this most horrible situation. She has always been so strong I guess the stress that she has been through has really taken a tole on her. I really wish that could find something to help all of the people that are suffering with horrible situation.
I just hope that she doesn't linger for a very long time because that is pure torture and that is a fact for the family and especially for the person. They know something has gone wrong but they just can't express it.
MAY GOD BLESS HER AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY NOW AND FOREVER AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!
Posted by: Carol | Aug 25, 2008 4:34:09 PM
I would ask if the former prime minister ate tainted beef, as dementia is a symptom of mad cow disease.
Posted by: B | Aug 25, 2008 4:47:52 PM
"B "
You are mistaken, she was already MAD before she ate the beef.
Posted by: Thomas Collins | Aug 25, 2008 5:03:30 PM
Ronnie Rayguns Doctors knew he was in the initial throes of ALZHEIMERS at the start of the 1984 campaign, and kept this news hidden from the American public. The MAINSCREAM media sure did not care about outing this fact either. The world paid a big price for it...At least Thatcher waited until she was off the platform to dive into this madness...9.5...9.0...8.5....9.5....9.0...8.5...
Posted by: daddyblue | Aug 25, 2008 5:23:28 PM
I remember one time when I was working at Herrod's in London (I worked in kitchens), Mrs. Thatcher came in and demanded that we show her what was available as far as brass double-headed dildos was concerned. My associate and I looked at her and her bodyguard and explained that we didn't have such an item to which she replied, "You have everything else including caskets, where then are your dildos". It was pure "Maggie".
Posted by: McCain is a Moron | Aug 25, 2008 7:08:16 PM
We have a major problem with Senile Dementia in the U.K, and any publicity that can highlight the plight of the many sufferers and their carers,the better. We urgently need more resources to fight this dreadful condition. I think Carol Thatcher was right to disclose this personal information.
Posted by: Carol | Aug 26, 2008 7:51:10 AM
Political opinions aside, it is unfortunate when anyone suffers from cognitive decline. This just goes to show that cognitive decline can impact anyone and everyone. For this reason, we should all consider to take extra steps to help prevent cognitive decline. I personally am taking brain training games and have found them to be helpful. If you are interested in reading some reviews of the top brain training games, I have a few reviews on my site.
Best,
Brian Jones
http://www.braintraininggames.net
Posted by: Brian Jones | Aug 26, 2008 4:58:14 PM
Just listen to all these character assasians. Kind of like the McWinner haters. I'm sure that a huge ammount of the senior voters will remember all the age jokes directed at the senior candidate. Big voting block for McWinner.
Posted by: bombem | Aug 27, 2008 2:16:12 PM
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