I have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of Alzheimer's. My grandmother, a concert pianist, was affected by this disease. I only remember her sometimes forgetting my name and struggling to play the piano. It wasn't until my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013 that I witnessed the full horrors and heartbreak of this disease.

As my mother's disease progressed, my father became her primary caregiver. My siblings and I had no idea the toll this was taking on him until he unexpectedly passed away in 2019. I willingly picked up many of those caregiving responsibilities. It was heartbreaking to watch my mother spend her nights in a state of fear and confusion. I watched as this disease slowly robbed her of her memories. Almost daily she would ask where my father was. Sometimes I could redirect her, but often she was adamant and I would have to explain he had passed away, and relive the grief with her. For my mother - each time was the first time.

I was also working full time with three of my boys still at home. Juggling all these responsibilities while staying with my mother every overnight and weekend because too much. With limited funds and after many exhausting and agonizing months, we made the difficult decision to sell her home and move her into assisted living. I visited her every morning, every night and on weekends as she adjusted to her new home. Then Covid-19 hit, everything shut down, and no visitors were allowed. We never anticipated the shut down would last so long. After several months, my mother became yet another tragic statistic, contracting Covid-19. I was only allowed in her room 35 minutes before she passed away. It still haunts me today that she spent her last days surrounded by strangers in full PPE gear, and I couldn't be there to calm her fears.

After my mother died, I felt an emptiness and carried guilt from how her life ended. I still carry this with me today. My experience is what brought me to Comfort Keepers, looking for a way to fill this void by helping other families. I am very passionate about our support for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, an organization for which I volunteer, fundraise, and walk.

I walk for my mother, for my grandmother, and for every person and family affected by this terrible disease. Please join me as I Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Mary Beth - Daughter of Ann Schaub, Granddaughter of Dorothy Olson