I am participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's in honor of my mother and my sister. In 2009, our mother Lorraine passed away from complications of dementia. Fast forward, and now my sister Karen (who is only 68), has full blown early onset Alzheimer's. She can no longer do the simple things we take for granted... like opening an envelope with a card inside. And while it is heartbreaking to hear her talking about her brothers and myself even when we are sitting right beside her, we are thankful that for the most part she is happy. It is a far cry from how totally depressed and angry our mother got with her dementia. No two Alzheimer's patients are alike. That is the reality of this disease. And Alzheimer's can affect anyone at any time. And 'there but for the grace of God go I". For those of you that didn't know, an opening at a memory care unit came up this January in Mallard Ridge in Clemmons. My sister's best friend and I moved her into her room there. At that time she still knew us, but she began cognitively declining and does not recognize who we are at this time. I feel for each and every one of you that has their own story to tell about how Alzheimer's has affected them in a very personal way. I have felt your pain. Please know the motto "One day at a time" has so much significant meaning to everyone dealing with this disease. It is because of how devastating Alzheimer's is that I continue to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association, in hopes that someday there will be a breakthrough on a cure. If you would like to help me in this fight, please consider sponsoring me in the upcoming walk. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Kathy