Jill Daum says writing a play about a familyB次元官网网址檚 struggles with AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 helped her get out of bed some days as she fought to accept her husbandB次元官网网址檚 diagnosis of the cruel disease.

Daum is married to musician John Mann, the driving force behind the Canadian band Spirit of the West, who was diagnosed with early-onset AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 almost six years ago and now, at age 55, lives in a care home.

B次元官网网址淔orget About TomorrowB次元官网网址� opened Jan. 25 at VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Belfry Theatre and is scheduled to run until Feb. 18. It is also scheduled to start March 1 at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Arts Club Theatre.

B次元官网网址淭he story is fictional but it was certainly inspired by what I learned from living with John. What I learned as a caregiver and what IB次元官网网址檝e had to watch him go through,B次元官网网址� said Daum in an interview hours before the opening night performance.

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She said AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 takes its toll on more than just the individual with the disease. It ransacks families and the play explores the decline of a family and couple as the disease slowly gnaws at long-standing bonds, she said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about the wife whoB次元官网网址檚 married to the person who gets the diagnosis and how it affects her and her family, and her path to accepting what her life will be,B次元官网网址� Daum said. B次元官网网址淪he goes down a few rabbit holes B次元官网网址� and eventually comes to a place of acceptance.B次元官网网址�

Daum, who was rewriting lines right up until opening night, said the play evolved during sessions at a womenB次元官网网址檚 writing workshop in Vancouver. She said she didnB次元官网网址檛 tell anybody about her husbandB次元官网网址檚 diagnosis and the foundation of the play emerged during those gatherings.

B次元官网网址淚 started to write scenes about a woman whose husband had early-onset and nobody in the group knew John had it,B次元官网网址� said Daum. B次元官网网址淭hey were really impressed with my knowledge about the disease. I got to talk about what it was like for a caregiver. I got to do all of that without anybody knowing it was actually about me.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淔orget About TomorrowB次元官网网址� is DaumB次元官网网址檚 first solo project, though she has collaborated on other plays.

She said Mann is not able to attend the Victoria performances.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e just gone through a really rough patch with him. But heB次元官网网址檚 still beautiful Johnny. HeB次元官网网址檚 still snapping his fingers. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of love for John in this show.B次元官网网址�

She said Mann often helped her read lines in the scenes and he contributed two songs to the play.

The songs, B次元官网网址淔orget to Forget,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭omB次元官网网址檚 Song,B次元官网网址� are the last songs Mann has written. The play opens and closes with the songs.

Daum said the play is an emotional roller-coaster, humorous and moving, as the family attempts to cope with upheaval in their lives. The performance arrives at a crossroad, where actor Jennifer Lines, who portrays the wife and caregiver, meets a new man and confronts a difficult decision.

B次元官网网址淭he dilemma is should Jane take it or stay with her husband when we all know in two years he wonB次元官网网址檛 remember her name,B次元官网网址� she said.

Daum said her personal road to acceptance of AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 has been difficult, especially since the journey is continuing to its ultimate end.

B次元官网网址淚 will have a life past AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 and John wonB次元官网网址檛. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard for everybody,B次元官网网址� Daum said.

Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press