Photos-Alzheimer's Disease,The transformation from humanity to death before dying

Before my mother passed away on October 6, 2008, her life was taken from her by Alzheimer’s Disease. It is impossible to write a few sentences about a person who touched so many lives through her loving kindness. My mother rescued me from a foster home and gave me life. My mother was a loving wife, grandmother, sister and aunt like many other mothers. She was productive and worked hard as an executive. She loved creative writing, reading, politics, discussing philosophical subjects. She had life long friends and found joy in giving to anyone who needed her even a drunken man lying in the street that she brought home to feed. This description is like a grain of sand on an ocean floor.
Alzheiemer’s disease took my mother’s life. This disease is not selective. It will attack a parent of a young child. It is not just a disease of the elderly. It is climbing to epidemic proportions particularly now as the baby boomer population grows in number. It is like a parasite eating the brain away. It is insidious and slowly devours the mind, which is more than just memory. It steals your thoughts, feelings, joys, talents, soul and spirit and mostly your ability to fight for your life. It deadens the person while their heart still beats as they cry in silence. Before it finally ends life, it destroys humility, integrity; and the passion we have for life. Loved ones are tormented, helpless and desperate. I cannot bring my mother back, but my mission is to end this disease and the suffering it causes by raising money for research and enlightening others by increasing awareness. I want to prevent this from happening to you!

Click one of the photos below to view it in full size.

The Public Policy Forum	THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN WASHINGTON DC	Maria Shriver	My Mother in her younger years	My Wedding Day with My Mother and Father
The joy my mother brought into my life	My mother holding my daughter, her grandchild, Brenda	My mother and my Aunt Rose - A incomparable love	My mother and I in the Assisted Living Facility	Heart break