Someone once said when you love someone with dementia, you lose them more and more every day.  And the reality of these words is a heartbreak no one should ever have to endure.

     My mom had dementia.  And my family and I were on our own.  We were scared, distraught, and angry.  The only people we had to talk to was my mother’s doctors, and although they were helpful, there wasn’t much they could do for us as a family.  There were times we were falling apart, trying to stay strong for my mom—times when we needed a helping hand or someone to tell us the right thing to do, or what we were doing was all right.  Every day became harder than the last, with most bringing with them more confusion and despair for both my mom and my family.

     Now, years later, we’ve come to learn that’s what the Alzheimer’s Association would have done for us.  If only someone had made us aware.  Things would have most definitely played out differently if we’d had them in our life when we needed them.  We made it through, but the quality of life for both my mom and my family as caregivers would have been a hell of a lot better with them at our side.

     The Alzheimer’s Association is currently fighting to find a cure and to help those with the disease and those who care for them travel through this journey with the help they so need.

     The Alzheimer’s Association offers so much for the families and those suffering —support, education, and when you’re at a total loss-help—and most importantly, peace of mind, letting the family and those suffering know they are not alone.

     My goal for this fundraiser, both financially and through awareness, is to help ensure the Alzheimer’s Association is there for the next family.

     If you have any questions about the Association, please reach out.   What I don’t know, I’ll find out.