Gracie's powerful poem on grandad's Alzheimer's struggle


Gracie Nuttall (14) attends Skipton Girls’ High School and wrote her poem during grandad Neal Nuttall’s (81) battle with Alzheimer’s and Myeloma, before he died on Tuesday in Blackburn Hospital.
Neal is a former Head of Upper School at Fearns in Bacup and lived in Yewlands Drive, Burnley.
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Hide AdTrawden Athletic Club member Nicola Nuttall, who was in Boston during the marathon bombing in 2013, ran the Manchester Marathon on Sunday in a time of three hours 21 minutes, her personal best.


Now she has just over a week to prepare for the London Marathon on Sunday, April 24th, and has already smashed her £150 fundraising target by raising almost £700 .
Nicola, who is a Director at Giddy Kippers Party and Play Centre on Lomeshaye Business Village, said: “Over the last 12 months Alzheimer’s has touched our family and Gracie decided to write a poem about how she felt.
“I am a runner and decided to tackle two marathons in two weeks to raise money for a cause close to our heart.”
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Hide AdNeal leaves wife Beryl, three sons and seven granddaughters.


To help Nicola boost her total for the Alzheimer’s Society more go to www.just giving.com/Nicola-Nut
Gracie’s poem:
It’s like you’re here but really you’re not
You’re the same outer shell, but inside you’re so different.


I can see you but can’t quite reach you
So close but so distant.
Your sense of humour everlasting
Your kindness and your wit


We can’t quite find the real you
And you’re different every day.
What I wouldn’t give to have one day with you
Where you’re back to your old self.
I’d tell you everything, leave nothing out
That’s my one biggest regret.
That I didn’t quite appreciate you
When you were all here
That I didn’t tell you
My hopes and my dreams.
Or listen when you told me you loved me
Or that I was clever
Or smart
Or funny.
How stupid was I not to know
That you would be my biggest hero
And not to lock up every memory with you
Because soon they would start to go.
If only you knew how much you’re missed
Despite that you’re still here.
But I have to remember that you’re still you
Just a little bit further away.