Since the first year we started walking in the WTEA this is the first time I’m updating my story. Every year since she passed in 2017 I have thought about updating my story but never could bring myself to do it. But I felt it was time this year (2021).

My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s shortly after my grandfather‘s death in 2010. We noticed declines prior to his passing and noticed major changes after he was gone. Prior to my grandfathers passing the little changes we noticed were being repetitive, no longer cooking the same, forgetfulness. After my grandfather passed those signs became much greater along with the inability to perform tasks that she had been doing for years. My mother and I, living the closest, became primary caregivers. On the weekends other family members would come to assist my mother and I with caring for my grandmother. There came a point that we had a full-time caregiver in her home but, unfortunately that was not the solution that my grandmother needed after some time passed. Caring for my grandmother at home became more than any of us could handle and a 24 hour live-in caregiver could handle. My grandmother needed more social interaction and the next level of care, we made a decision as a family that it would be best to put her into an Alzheimer’s and dementia wing in a local nursing home. While this is one of the hardest decisions I feel ever needed to be made because, I always wanted her to be home where she felt comfortable, it was a long overdue decision that was needed. My grandmother thrived in the nursing home and it was so good to see her be involved in various activities that they would do. Some of her aids and nurses became extended family members and to this day we still keep in touch. They cared for my grandmother as if she was their own. Unfortunately, a day came where I noticed my grandmother just wasn’t the same she was very lethargic and just not herself. Little did I know at that moment she was in the beginning stages of a cerebral hemorrhage which ultimately took her life a week later on June 10th, seven years to the day that my grandfather passed. When we learned earlier that week that she had a cerebral hemorrhage and did not have much time left I knew my grandfather in heaven had a plan and I knew he was going to take her on the 10th and that’s exactly what happened. My grandfather may have determined the day to come and take his hunny to heaven with him but my grandmother went out the way she wanted. She was surrounded by my mom, my aunt, and myself. I held her hand told her it was ok and to go be with Grandpa and before I knew it she was gone. It was a beautiful moment to be there when she took her last breath but at the same time that moment haunts me because I had to let my grandmother go and watch her leave me.

After my grandmother‘s passing I noticed my health was not that great. I was getting what I didn’t know at the time were a form of anxiety attacks which only proceeded to get worse within the year of her passing. After about 10 months of living with these anxiety attacks I finally went under the care of a psychiatrist and therapist and I’m still learning to cope and deal with my anxiety. I am and feel always will be a work in progress. One thing I tell everyone and I advocate for is as a caregiver you need to care for yourself. I never took that opportunity to take a moment to recharge my battery. Grandma was always top priority no matter what! I  made a promise to my grandfather before he died I would see her every day and I kept that promise. No hurricanes, super storms, snow storms, or anything else stopped me from seeing her every single day (except when I was out of the state which then I still spoke to her every day).

In addition to being the team captain for my grandmothers team I also am a walk chair, congressional advocate ambassador, state advocate, and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement member. I look forward to the day I can stop my advocating and working to #ENDALZ because we have the first survivor, a cure, and prevention and have ended this horrific disease. My hope is to never see another family go through the heart ache that my family went through and the struggle my grandmother went through losing her memories.