Walking to End Alzheimer’s and raising money to fight this devastating disease to help find a cure is very personal to me. My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which was not only life changing for her, but for our entire family. 

Our Mom’s story begins and ends with family. She was the oldest of 10 children (8 sisters, 1 brother), and she raised 7 children of her own. She and our father were business owners which she enjoyed, but her love was cooking from scratch (no recipe needed) using vegetables from her garden and having her family around the dinner table sharing a meal. Her family and friends could drop in at any time, and she would be ready with a glass of tea and a salad from her garden which would be the highlight of her day. She was happiest when she was serving others with her special form of hospitality.

The first noticeable signs of Mom’s decline began around 2003. Sadly, some of the first signs were struggling to recall close family members’ names, being challenged with daily routines, and most noticeably, her ability to cook even basic dishes. Her entire life, she cooked from memory or intuition. It was heartbreaking to see this disease take away her joy of cooking and the connection it brought to our family.

As Mom’s disease progressed, once again, family took center stage. We had members of the family who were her primary caregivers. However, her entire family contributed to her wellbeing and care in their own unique way for many years until it was no longer possible. We then had to make the difficult decision to move her into a skilled nursing facility. We lost our mother in 2009. Fittingly, she was surrounded by her family when she passed away. We miss her dearly, but the lessons she taught us about family and connection will endure forever.

We know that Alzheimer’s impacts so many friends and neighbors in Central Florida, and we want to make a difference; In honor of our mother, our family is dedicated to supporting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and we hope that you will join us, knowing that one day we will find a cure!

Together- Let’s #ENDALZ