“The husband I knew is no more” – Joke Silva speaks about marital struggles with Olu Jacob as he battles dementia
Joke Silva, 61, a renowned Nollywood actress, recently opened up about the challenges she and her husband, Olu Jacobs, 81, have faced due to his battle with dementia.
In a heartfelt conversation with media personality and actress Nancy Isime, Silva shared how the illness has affected their marriage. She reminisced about their early years together, emphasizing that Jacobs was not just her greatest friend but the center of her entire life in their marriage. However, as his illness progressed, their relationship underwent significant changes.
Silva candidly expressed, “It hasn’t been easy… There came a point where I had to accept that everything happening was the new reality, and it felt like the person I married was no longer fully present about 80 percent of the time.”
Despite the challenges posed by Jacobs’ dementia, Silva continues to hold deep affection for him. She acknowledged that the affection and closeness they once shared have diminished, but she emphasized her enduring love for him, saying, “The husband I knew is no longer fully here, but he is someone I still love.”
Having been married for 37 years and known each other for 42 years, including five years of dating before tying the knot, Silva recognized the hardships they encountered in the early stages of their marriage. Eventually, she came to accept their circumstances and now sees herself as caring for her father rather than being in a traditional husband-wife relationship.
Watch the video below:
Joke Silva, a Nollywood actress, recently talked up about the marital difficulties she and her husband, Olu Jacobs, have been through as he battles dementia.
Silva revealed how the sickness has damaged their marriage in a touching conversation with media personality and actress… pic.twitter.com/x0d9RHwUUu
— Frank Addo (@_frankaddo_) July 2, 2023