Grandad ‘simply happy to share a laugh’ dealing with dementia

A BALLYFERMOT grandad has been making waves on social media on a TikTok account created by his daughters, documenting their dad’s life since he was diagnosed with dementia a year-and-a-half ago.

Christopher de-Botte, 81, who is affectionately referred to as Papa Chris on the TikTok account titled Dealing with Dementia, is originally from Gurteen Road but emigrated to Canada in 1965.

He lives in Vancouver, and his daughters Jamie Gervais, 47, and Caele de-Botte, 44, regularly film content of their dad reminiscing or sharing a joke and then post it on Dealing with Dementia.

“We set up the TikTok account just about three months ago as many friends urged us to do so,” Jaime told The Echo.

“They found his jokes to be funny and his character very likeable and thought others would too.”

The most popular post on the account, which has been viewed over 600,000 times, features one of Chris’s daughters asking, “Hey Dad, if you weren’t Irish, what would you be?”

Chris, who attended the De La School in Ballyfermot when he was a child, then cheerily responds, “Why, I’d be ashamed of myself”, with a laugh.

The content offers little vignettes into Chris’s life post-dementia diagnosis, with a particular emphasis on his upbeat demeanour and penchant for telling jokes.

Chris and the rest of his family, including his son Sean and grandchildren Zachary, Levi, Ronin and Kai, are surprised but pleased by the traction the TikTok account has gained.

Jaime said: “He’s very shocked at the TikTok response and is in a little disbelief that his simple jokes gained such a broad reaction.

“The traction it has earned has him in awe.

“And we’re very surprised that Dad’s videos went a little viral – we never expected this much traction.

“We all keep checking TikTok very frequently and feel totally amazed at the speed at which likes are increasing and new followers are joining. It’s a little surreal.”

The handle for the TikTok account is @PapaChris_ and Chris and his family intend to continue uploading content to it, to raise awareness of dementia and to show there can still be levity after a dementia diagnosis.

“Dad is simply happy to share a laugh, music and his day-to-day experiences,” added Jaime.

“If anything, our hope is that people will gain further understanding of dementia and will be inspired to live in the moment and laugh and enjoy life regardless of the challenges they face.”