This July, I’m riding a 255-miles (still not committing to run this far)
from Simpsonville to Mount Pleasant to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.
I remember visiting my great-grandmother Maude (who raised my mother) as a kid in the nursing home and her not remembering who I was.
Thankfully it never reached that level with Mom who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s as a side effect of her Multiple Sclerosis.
I don’t know how many of you reading this have lost a parent yet, but you always look back wishing you spent more time with them and talked to them more. I look back and wonder how many times I didn’t call her because I selfishly thought about how I’d have to explain where I was living (again), who was my current dog (again), or just didn’t want to repeat the same conversation 4 or more times on a ½ hour phone call. When I raced up to see my mom when her heart was finally giving out on her, I’m blessed have walked into the ICU, and upon seeing her fall in and out of consciousness while at least partially sedated because she was on a ventilator, hear my voice and turn to look at me and make eye contact with recognition knowing me and that I made it to see her one last time. That’s a memory I hope to never have taken away from me and I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy for a disease like Alzheimer’s to take away that recognition from anyone.
Right now, there is no shortage of ideas in Alzheimer's research, only funding. Each donation helps advance research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer's and provide help for those facing dementia today. If you’d like to support me with a donation, join our team, or just offer a kind word, I’d appreciate it.
Cheer Me On!