A grandson’s book brings joy back to grandmother battling memory loss

Marykutty Joseph, grandmother of 11-year-old John Justin, has always been at the heart of his childhood stories. From an early age, John grew up listening to the countless tales she shared like fairy tales, folklore and family histories rooted in her ancestral home in Veliyanadu, a village in the heart of Kuttanad.

From tales that warned about strangers to biblical parables that spoke of greed and selfishness, Marykutty’s stories became guiding lights, helping John understand life’s values. Looking back, he now realises how these tales were gentle tools his grandmother used to shape his thoughts and imagination.

Today, however, the roles have reversed. Marykutty, now 80, is battling dementia, and John has found a way to keep their bond alive through storytelling. Out of this effort was born Marykuttiyude Orma Pusthakam (Marykutty’s Memory Book), a chronicle of her life. The book traces her journey from childhood in an agricultural family, through her marriage, motherhood and finally to the chapter where John himself enters her story.

For John, the book has become a bridge to keep conversations alive with his grandmother. “I am happy that I can now read to her the same stories she once told me. Most importantly, she understands what I am saying,” says the Class VI student with pride.

The idea came from John’s aunt, a geriatric care professional in the UK. Following her suggestion, he selected 100 key moments from his grandmother’s life and paired them with photographs, some restored and enhanced with AI and illustrations created with the same technology.

John, a Class VI student at SJB CBSE School, Nedumkunnam is also active on social media. With help from his cousin in the UK, he runs Dream Y on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, where his grandmother often features in his videos. A recent video on the memory book has gone viral, winning appreciation from viewers, especially the elderly. Many has shared that it reminded them of their own parents battling dementia, with some saying the content even moved them to tears.

His parents too are glad that John and his grandmother continue to share the things they always enjoyed together, like eating side by side, cosy conversations and storytelling. “It puts the illness in a safe context for both. The book even includes clever little scenes in which Grandma’s illness is gently played down,” says Justin Joseph, John’s father.

“Since getting this book, my mother has blossomed. She now spends time with its pictures and even shares them with us, a joy we hadn’t seen since her memory loss,” he adds.