As I confront what may be the most significant challenge of my life, a deep sense of gratitude fills my heart. I feel blessed to have an extraordinary man to love—my husband, Gerald Mitchell Turk, also known as "Poppie" to our kids, grandchildren, and extended family.
His intelligence is unmatched, and his kindness and generosity know no bounds.
As we move into early 2024, things have changed since his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2023. While he remains somewhat active, his mind and body don’t function as they once did. Each day brings new challenges, and I've come to realize that dementia is a complex and profound journey. Just yesterday we were discussing plans for a spring trip, but today, he struggles to complete a sentence. It's a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of Alzheimer's. In a matter of moments, everything can shift, and familiar names slip away. Navigating this journey with Alzheimer's requires resilience and adaptation, and we're facing it together, one uncertain moment at a time.
Every 67 seconds someone in the US is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, resulting in at least 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s annually. Each of us can contribute to helping researchers solve the puzzle that is Alzheimer's and support the caregivers who provide nurture and support for those diagnosed with it by joining in the Walk for Alzheimer’s. Please consider joining my team for this short 1.5 mile walk on Saturday, 23 September 2024. I know Mitch would be deeply touched by your support in this effort as will I.
Thank you for reading my story as it continues to unfold.
Dona
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