Our journey began in 1993 when Dad was just 62 yrs. old and still practicing medicine. Peter J. Soto,Jr. M.D. did not remember that he was going to meet our Mom in St. Louis for a surprise 30th birthday party for his son Pete. It took a long while (nearly 5 years) to figure out what was happening with Dad. But, when we realized it was not just small strokes he experienced and that it was most probably Alzheimer's Disease we were devastated and wished it wasn't true.

The person most affected by AD is the Primary Caregiver and in our case that was our mom Mary Perry Soto - our hero! She was so amazingly strong and through it all kept her sense of humor. It was not easy and the disease took away her carefree years as she was just 59 yrs. old on that day in May at her son's 30th surprise party.
In the years that followed, the Alzheimer's Association provided valuable information and tools to help us through this devastating disease. From support groups, special talk/events, great books, to the monthly phone calls from the AD Helpline representative Betty Lando. And the Adult Daycare program was fabulous so Mom could get a break. Dad was safe and Mom could hear a great speaker and share with a support group that soon became her dear friends together on this tough uncharted journey. 

So, our family has walk/run in the St. Louis Walk to End Alzheimer's since 2006 and we will continue to walk/ run and hope for a cure in memory of Peter J. Soto (1930-2007).

Thank you on behalf of our family!