I Want to Make You Smile

<p><em>I Want to Make You Smile: A Family Memoir of Resilience in the Age of Alzheimer's</em> shares our family's journey through the duality of grief and purpose shedding light on the deeply personal and culturally distinct aspects of caring for a loved one with dementia in an African context. This book is a tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved sister Smileth Ncunyiswa affectionately known to many as Smiza. More than a memoir it is a call to social justice grounded in our family's experience of home-based caregiving-an approach that embraces the humanity of Alzheimer's patients amidst the profound challenges.</p><p>A former student of Healdtown High School and St. John's College in Eastern Cape Smiza was a dedicated educator. She served as both a teacher and school principal in Soweto. With a Master's Degree in Education her career even took her as far away as Hungary in Eastern Europe. Diagnosed in 2012 while attending Harvard's Educational Leadership Program in Boston USA as a visiting fellow she is now in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's and receiving hospice care at home.</p><p>Through a socio-biographical lens I reveal Smiza's battle with Alzheimer's highlighting the complex realities faced by Black individuals living with dementia in South Africa-a condition often misunderstood underfunded and underserved. In a society where stigma and cultural misconceptions persist people with dementia can be left feeling dehumanized isolated and invisible. As a social scientist and caregiver I bridge our personal experience with broader social realities using a sociological lens to show that Alzheimer's is not just a personal tragedy but a public issue in urgent need of awareness and resources.</p><p>With Alzheimer's dementia rates increasing sharply among Black elders the need for culturally sensitive support and practical caregiving solutions has become critical. <em>I Want to Make You Smile</em> aims to catalyze understanding inspire social change and provide a lasting source of support for home-based caregivers across South Africa.</p><p>This book is my most purposeful work-a prophetic mission to honor Smileth's legacy. Through a narrative that intertwines personal resilience with community empowerment I invite readers into a discussion about human frailty the emotional strength required in caregiving and the resilience of those afflicted by and those supporting individuals with dementia. Together we can forge a path of compassion and change for all touched by this illness.</p>