frances,
I understand how you must feel but please try to not take it personally. That is something that I am working on too. I have been married for over 50 years and there are times when my husband thinks I am someone else. He is losing memory of all the wonderful things that we have done in our life as well as not remembering serious things we have dealt with. Yesterday I said it has been almost 4 years since I had breast cancer surgery and he said that he didn't know that I had had surgery & 4 weeks of radiation.
Please understand that your friend has a brain disease and it doesn't take away all of the wonderful years of your friendship. I am trying to come to terms with the fact that my husband in many ways is not the same person anymore and possibly it is the same with your friend.
I would like to hear what others have to say about coping. Seriously, this is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever had to live through so I understand how you must feel.
I am just trying to make it one day at a time.