This will be my 7th year participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's. I lost my Dad in Dec 2016 to Alzheimer's. But we really lost him a few years before. Its a horrible thing to miss someone when they are still alive. You lose them twice once when then lose their memory and then again when they pass away. He didn't know me anymore, and hadn't for close to 3 years before he passed away. I sat with him in those final days. Taking pictures, holding his hand, telling him it was Ok to go. His last words to me were "you gotta help me", that has haunted me for years. I have it on video because he was speaking so softly I couldn't understand him. When I played it back and heard those words I felt destroyed.
NOW ITS TAKING MY MOM!!!!! I noticed some odd behaviors and thought oh there's no way. Then within a few shorts months it was very apparent something was seriously wrong. She's started on Aricept. She doesn't think she has any memory issues but after you talk to her a few minutes it's obvious. It's an absolutely terrifying time for me. Can I do this again? Why me? But I have no other choice. So I fight everyday….
I can't believe Alzheimer's is going to take both my parents. It makes me wonder, am I next? Is this what my sons will face with me?
We need a cure NOW!!
I'm leading the way to Alzheimer's first survivor by participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's(R). Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.
Together, we can end Alzheimer's disease. Please make a donation to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.
Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer's!
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