Hello Family and Friends,

October 2022,

It's that time again. We have a Walk to End Alzheimer's  on October 29, 2022. We will get out to walk and fundraise for a very important cause: a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. I walk for my Dad who passed away five years ago from Alzheimer's. You were very generous with your donations last year and they were greatly appreciated. Will you match that amount this year? I hope you do!! We're told that Research is getting close to finding a way to slow the progress of this disease. We need a CURE.

Thank you in advance for your contribution and God Bless!

Jody Toomey Nolan

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My Dad's Story

October 11th, 2017

Today my Dad lost his battle with Alzheimer’s. I’m so sad to see you leave us but we know you are now in the place Jesus said he would prepare for you. Forever free of the mind that locked you in more and more over time. Fly free from the burdens of this world and this disease. Please know I will continue to walk and do my part in preventing Alzheimer’s from taking any more lives. I will pray for you often and never forget you!

Love,

Jody 

2017 Update

Hello everyone! It’s that time of year again. Another year has passed and Dad’s illness has progressed as expected, unfortunately. He sleeps a lot now and rarely speaks. Mom still visits daily along with my Sister MaryAnn. My other three siblings and I live out of state but visit Dad and Mom as often as we can. Dad’s under Hospice care now and we are told that this doesn’t mean that anything is imminent. There are just extra nurses watching over him. 

I’m still fighting Alzheimer’s in my little way. I’ll be walking again this year in Sarasota and as I know many of you can’t join me in this walk, I hope you can support me in this fight. Your donation, big or small, will be critical in continuing to make sure that Alzheimer’s Awareness is in front of our lawmakers who control funding for critical research projects which could find a cure. Please join my “Team Toomey “ today through your donation and God Bless.

Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer's!

(2016)

As most of you know, my Dad (Patrick “Joe” Toomey) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. In those early days, Dad knew a little bit about what the future could bring him with this disease. Dad was always the gentlest, easy-going person you could ever meet. That had been a great asset to him as he and my Mother raised their six children. His calm demeanor, deep faith, and lifelong habits of a healthy diet and exercise have served him well.

Mom and Dad collaborated spectacularly well in coping with the illness.  Dad voluntarily gave up driving and Mom began laying out clothing for him each morning. For about 18 months Dad willingly attended a daytime memory care program several times a week, participating in exercise and other programs to maintain and sometimes to reclaim some affected brain function. Dad’s wonderful doctor at the V.A. prescribed helpful meds and made practical suggestions as Dad moved through sub-stages of the disease.  My sister Lynn’s research turned up a coconut oil formula that is intended to help the brain maximize neural connections. Dad still takes it with his meds, though he is no longer verbal enough to mumble “I just take this stuff to make Lynn feel better!”

At one point Dad told Mom that he would be OK if she placed him in a "Home" when he became "too hard to deal with". Well, Mom couldn't just do that. They had shared over 57 years together, never leaving each other’s side, except for work. She cared for him at home for as long as she could, eventually bringing in nurse’s aides, until it became evident that home was no longer safe for him.  This past June, Dad moved into the Memory Care Unit of a very nice, nearby nursing facility. Last month, it became necessary to transfer him to that facility’s nursing unit.

Now, when I travel up "North" to visit, I know Dad doesn't recognize me. He doesn't recognize my sister who visited him daily, and, sadly, though he lights up every time she enters the room, he doesn't recognize my mother as his wife. My siblings and I eagerly look for that glimmer in his eyes which tells us he does remember something.... but Alzheimer's had taken away his ability to share his thoughts with us. 

It is not possible to reverse the brain damage my father has suffered.  But I'm helping reclaim the future for millions by participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.

Will you help me work to fund necessary research to find a cure for one of the worst diseases afflicting so many of our elders? The end of Alzheimer's disease starts with you. Please donate to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Thank you for joining the movement!