Up Early For Alzheimer’s

You get to meet a lot of people at events like this. Some, like me, have family members affected. Many of the walkers are unpaid caregivers for friends or relatives. Alzheimer’s is labor intensive!

Like Juvenile Diabetes it’s likely Alzheimer’s will be cured one day. The question is how quickly that day comes. Events like today’s work to shorten the wait.

I’m not an early to bed, early to rise kind of guy. My day usually ends around the same time most people’s is beginning. That goes double for Sundays!

Not today. Helaine gave me a gentle jostle around 7:30 AM. Kvetch? I wouldn’t dare. She was up even earlier!

Today was the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” at Bushnell Park in Hartford. I emceed with Renee Denino from The River (and the other Clear Channel stations in Connecticut)

I probably would have gone no matter who asked, but it was Kristen Cusato’s request. There’s little Kristen could ask that I’d refuse. She works for the Alzheimer’s Association. She has a personal connection as well.

A substantial crowd showed. There were 208 teams and around 1,500 walkers. That’s doubly impressive considering the chilly rain showers that fell.

You get to meet a lot of people at events like this. Some, like me, have family members affected. Many of the walkers are unpaid caregivers for friends or relatives. Alzheimer’s is labor and emotion intensive!

Like Juvenile Diabetes it’s likely Alzheimer’s will be cured one day. The question is how quickly that day comes. Events like today’s work to shorten the wait.

About My Mom

In the back of my mind I understand she is likely to return to where she was a few weeks ago. Still this recent change has been nothing short of miraculous and totally unexpected.

Early in October I wrote about my mom. She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Changes in her were noticeable and troubling. Over the last two weeks things have changed again… rapidly… for the good. None of us quite know what to make of this.

The long term plan has been for our little family to get together for Thanksgiving. My sister’s oldest daughter has just given birth to my parent’s second great grandchild. It’s a joyous time. How often could all of us (including Stefanie) be in one place?

The worry was how my mother would travel? We all assumed she and my dad would not be able to attend.

They flew in this past weekend. The trip went well. They’re at my sister’s home.

That’s not the startling part.

When I wrote in October my mother was speaking in monosyllables. She was answering questions with single word answers. She was not engaging with those around her. She would not maintain a conversation.

All of that has changed!

I first noticed it a few weeks ago. My sister noticed it too.

Yesterday my mom joined a phone conversation and kept up her end admirably. I am ecstatic beyond belief.

We are not naive. No one expects my mom will return to the woman she was ten or fifteen years ago. In the back of my mind I understand she is likely to return to where she was a few weeks ago. Still this recent change has been nothing short of miraculous and totally unexpected.

You have no idea how excited we are to join the family for Thanksgiving.