For nearly 20 years, I built a career as a Fiduciary Tax Accountant. My days were structured, analytical, rooted in logic. Then in 2016, I was diagnosed with dementia.

At first, it felt like an ending. The analytical side of my brain began to struggle. I watched parts of myself slip away, and I grieved.

But something unexpected happened. As my analytical brain struggled, my creative brain woke up.

I picked up my camera with deliberate intention—to show myself and the world that people living with dementia can still create and contribute. I began to see the world through beauty, texture, light, and meaning. A mentor from the Dementia Action Alliance looked at my work and said, “Mark, you are an artist.” That moment changed everything.

Poetry came later, in late 2022, after my son died. Writing became a way to process grief and honor his memory.

Today, I am a photographer and poet. I’ve published Idyll Musings, Volume 1, a collection of original poetry and photography exploring dementia, grief, mental health, and loss.

Dementia is not the end of someone’s story. It is the beginning of a new chapter.

That belief drives my work as an advocate and public speaker. I collaborate with the Dementia Action Alliance, The Eden Alternative, DanceStream Projects, and dance artist Magda Kaczmarska to change the tragedy narrative around dementia—from hopelessness to hope, purpose, and well-being.

Language shapes reality. The words we use matter. That’s why I prefer “care partner” over “caregiver”—someone who helps you remain at the head of your own table.

When people see my work, they’re often shocked. “Wait—someone with dementia created this?” I welcome that reaction. It’s an opportunity to educate and challenge assumptions.

After losing my son in 2022, I also became an advocate for suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and homelessness.

Change “There is no hope” to “Opportunities to make a positive difference are plentiful.”

I’m not defined by dementia. I’m defined by what I choose to do with it.

I’m available to speak at conferences and events. Let’s connect and change the narrative together.