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The heart doesn't forget.

For the last several years, we watched, all too helplessly, as our beloved JoEllen suffered with the progression of Alzheimer's. This terrible disease slowly took everything from her, and it eventually took her from us. It robbed her of decades of precious memories. It took away her hobbies. It stole her mental capacity and much of her trademark personality and sharp wit. It obscured for her so many relationships that had mattered deeply to her for so many years.

Our hearts ached, then cracked, then broke, then completely shattered as we witnessed the tragic way this disease took such an incredible person away from us.

But we find comfort. Comfort in years of priceless memories we have of her, and in the fact that while sometimes the mind can't remember, the heart never forgets. We know JoEllen's heart never forgot, and it allowed her to feel and share tender love with those around her until the day she moved beyond this existence.

And we find hope. Hope in the power and potential of research and science. Hope that somehow, some day, humanity will find a way to defeat this disease so that other families won't have to feel the pain, the frustration, the worry, and the heartbreak we and so many other families have felt.

If you're reading this, you likely knew JoEllen. And if you knew JoEllen, you almost certainly love her dearly--because everyone who knew her does. We thank you for that love and we feel it. We're sure she does too. Please honor her by helping us fight the disease that took her from us.

JoEllen was a woman who quietly performed countless acts of thoughtful kindness throughout her life. Now's our chance to perform one more act of kindness for her--and for all who have suffered, are suffering, and will yet suffer from this disease. Hopefully with your help, it's a few less. Every dollar donated here goes right to Alzheimer's Association for researching better ways to treat and prevent the disease--and to hopefully one day cure it.

We love JoEllen. And though we're saying goodbye to her for now, we will never forget her. Our hearts won't let us.