Saturday, October 2, 2021

This year Judy Rutsey and I have partnered again for the Walk.  Last year we raised $14,800 and this year we hope to do as well or better. Sally and I have been friends with the Rutsey’s for many years but really got close in recent years when both Gene and Sally were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  We spent many days and evenings together at couples meetings and Judy and I were quite active with Caregiver Meetings which we still attend.

Gene unfortunately passed away in May of 2018 but Judy still attends the Caregiver Meetings to show her support for the rest of us.  Sally was diagnosed in 2008 when she was 70 years old and she went into Memory Care at North Woods Village 18 months ago.  She is doing pretty well physically but definitely has trouble with memory, focus and concentration.  She is on medication for her thyroid and that’s it. 

We tried the current meds available for Alzheimer’s early in the disease, but they only address the symptoms and not the disease, and work for only a short time.  Thanks to your donations in the past, I am glad to be able to tell you that a new drug, Aduhelm, has been approved to treat early stage Alzheimer’s patients, and will be coming out soon.  Although the price is high, the Alzheimer’s Association advocates will fight to bring the cost down and make it accessible to everyone. This is promising news for those with a diagnosis.

Here are some interesting stats about Alzheimer’s and other dementias: 

Someone is the USA develops Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds…From 2000 to 2017 deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 145%...2/3 of the 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are women… 63% of the Caregivers die before the patients due to lack of self-care.

As I asked last year – what can we do about this?  We need to raise money for additional research to find a cure for this terrible disease which affects people of all ages even in their 30’s and 40’s.  I am concerned for my children and grandchildren.  My dad and my father-in-law both died in their early 70’s with Alzheimer’s and it was tough watching them go through this. Money raised also provides free programs, services and support groups for caregivers and their loved ones.

To donate on line, go to  act.alz.org/fortwayne and search for the Sanders-Rutsey Team.  Then click on either my name or Judy’s and make your contribution. If you would like to send a check make it out to the Alzheimer’s Association and in the Memo Section of your check please write Sanders Rutsey Team.

Please mail to one of us at:

Ed Sanders 9531 Windmill Court Ft. Wayne, IN 46804 - cell # 260-466-2276 or

Judy Rutsey 15804 Weston Glen Ct. Huntertown, IN 46748 – phone # 260-705-2833

Thanks so much!

P.S.  A Suggestion -  If you are healthy – you might want to look into Long Term Care Insurance – I bought it when I was 65 and it has been absolutely wonderful for us and was not that expensive.