Devoted Son Helps Keep Memories Alive for Mum

December 9 2015

Devoted Son Helps Keep Memories Alive for Mum Diagnosed with Alzheimers

At the age of 55, Susan Robertson was diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimers.

Devastating at such a young age, Susan Robertson, now 57, says she can remember where she was when the doctors phoned and gave her the news in August 2014.

“I felt like my life was over, there was so much I still wanted to experience and it was really hard to come to terms with the fact I might not be able to do so much of it.”

Top of the list for Sue was a trip overseas, and determined to help make her dream a reality before it was too late, her son Adam Robertson, set out to make it happen.

Working closely with Flight Centre NZ and Trafalgar, Sue, Adam and Adam’s partner Gabriella set off on a once in a lifetime journey to Europe in October 2015.

Wanting to help keep the memories alive for Sue, Adam who runs video production company ARMEDIA NZ Ltd, decided to film the entire journey and produce a video filled with memories for Sue. Adam hopes that even long after the Alzheimers has taken over, Sue will still be able to relive, revisit and maybe even remember the experiences she had on her trip.

Here is their journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VuX9X89jYQ

Chris Greive, Flight Centre NZ managing director says he’s really humbled that Flight Centre was able to make this dream a reality for Sue.

“Travelling the world is on many people’s bucket lists and I am so happy that we were able to help Sue tick this off her list, the Robertsons are such a wonderful family and knowing that Flight Centre Barrington and guided holiday specialist Trafalgar was able to deliver such an amazing travel experience is just wonderful.”

Flying first to London, where Sue was able to have closure for her sister’s death by visiting Stonehenge, the last place her sister visited before she passed, they then joined Trafalgar’s eight day European Traveller guided holiday through France, Switzerland and Italy. They spent time journeying through Paris, the Swiss Alps, Venice and Florence before finishing in Rome.

Adam says the Trafalgar guided holiday was amazing, “we visited the ‘must-see’ sights, but our Trafalgar travel experts also took us a lot deeper into the real culture of each of the destinations we visited, we really felt like we had an insider experience.”

Sue says her favourite part of the trip was standing atop the Eiffel tower and the Swiss Alps, “I still can’t believe I’ve been to all of these amazing places, but visiting the Eiffel tower in Paris and experiencing the vastness and wonder of the Swiss Alps were such special experiences which will live long in my heart.”

Sue, Adam and Gabs also spent a few days in Dubai on their way home to New Zealand.

Having returned from Europe, Sue now lives full time with Adam, “she has her good and bad days but with the help of my brother and good friends and family we will help her soldier on.”

"This isn't the end. It's just a new chapter . . . getting a diagnosis doesn't change you. There is still time, we like to say we are living with, not dying from," Adam Robertson on his mums early diagnosis of Alzheimers.

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