November 28th, 2021, I lost my mother to Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Dementia after a 10 year fight with the disease. My parents were my best friends and after losing my father to lung cancer in 2013, I was devastated when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's that same year.
In October, 2013, I moved my mom from NY to Florida to live with Carrie and I. Mom's disease was in the early stages and the only person who really saw a difference in her was me. Mom went literally everywhere with us and she loved every minute. Football games, out to dinner, even Halloween Horror nights! Mom was there!
In 2017, mom was in the kitchen making coffee and fell. We woke up to her screaming 'Help! Help Joyce!'. That day she broke her femur and after having surgery mom's dementia decline was rapid. Within less than a year, mom had become completely bed bound and there she would stay until she passed in 2021.
Every day my wife would go into mom's room and bathe her, feed her, change her diapers, give her medication, sing to her, and listen to music with her. This was our routine for almost three years.
Many people suffering from dementia to not have the 'luxury' of staying home with their family as the disease is beyond difficult for most people to handle. But, my wife gave up everything to be mom's caregiver for almost 10 years and she would do it a million times over. My mom was her best friend in the world and they adored one another.
There are truly no words for this disease. Watching the person you love slowly die as their brain becomes riddled with plaque is beyond traumatizing for everyone involved.
I will never stop fighting for a cure for Alzheimer's. Please help me rid the world of this horrible and devastating disease.
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