This Is For You, Dad Claire's Making Memories
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|21 August 2017

The star has a supporting role at home.

Sophie Neville
This Is For You, Dad Claire's Making Memories

When Claire Chitham treads the boards in her latest play, there will be laughter, jokes and merriment in spades. It comes as something of a relief for the 39-year-old Kiwi actress, who for the past few years has been privately dealing with a heartbreaking family health crisis.

Bravely opening up to Woman’s Day, she tells us that her beloved dad Bryan, 71, is suffering from a rare and devastating type of dementia called Primary Progressive Aphasia, a degenerative disorder affecting the language functions of the brain.

“It’s incredibly heartbreaking to lose someone right in front of your eyes,” she says, explaining that the disease affects her dad’s ability to speak, read and communicate. “It’s the hardest thing to comprehend and even though it’s been happening for several years now, I still get hit by waves of grief. It’s been a rocky road for my whole family.”

Claire was living in Los Angeles back in 2014 when her mum Melanie mentioned that something seemed “not quite right” with her salesman dad. Brushing it off, Claire assumed all would be well, but a visit home at Christmas was a wake-up call. “It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly the problem was, but there were words he couldn’t quite get out or you’d get the feeling he couldn’t follow certain things when you were talking,” she tells. “You could see him struggling.”

A visit to the doctor led to many months of uncertainty as specialists searched for answers.

This story is from the 21 August 2017 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 21 August 2017 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZView All
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 mins  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 mins  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 mins  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024