Guest Blogger, Carol M.
As part of World Alzheimer's Action Day on September 21st, Chris and Carol M. stood on the steps of Nebraska's capital building with Lt. Governor Sheehy, the Alzheimer's Association staff, and advocates from Nebraska and Iowa to raise awareness by lighting the dome purple.
Chris was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's a few years ago, and he and his wife, Carol, have been very active in the cause ever since. On the steps of the capital, Carol spoke for just a few minutes, but her words add another important voice to the growing demand for a cure:
"We are Carol and Chris M---, and we are living with Alzheimer's.
If there is only one thing that I know for sure, it's that life is unpredictable. One minute you are on top of the world--practicing medicine, going on military deployments, being active, independent, and social.
The next minute--during a deployment in Iraq, you fall and have a bad head injury. All the while, you have no idea that this concussive injury could be exacerbating and underlying condition: a condition that will change your life forever, or maybe even cut it short.
Your doctors are saying, 'I don't know what's wrong with you, but you shouldn't practice medicine or drive anymore...and we will re-evaluate this again in six months.... Oh, and by the way, let's start you on this medication for Alzheimer's, but I don't think that's what you have....'
The process of getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is long and involved, and the idea that the one you love might actually have Alzheimer's is down-right scary--especially when you know there is no cure.
At age 56, that's a tough pill to swallow. That's our prime. That's when we're active in our careers and our lives. We shouldn't be worried about a long-term, debilitating illness that robs us of time.
Alzheimer's takes on many faces. Some folks are really troubled with memory, thinking, and reasoning, while others struggle with visual-spacial disturbances. Activities of daily living, such as dressing, grooming, making simple meals, or using the telephone are now frustrating tasks that were once a matter of routine.
The disease plays no favorites. It's currently affecting more than 5 million individuals; some, I've been told, are in their 30's. This is no longer seen as a disease that affects old people in nursing homes.
It's your grandparents, your parents, your siblings and spouses and children.
It's your neighbor.
We are lighting the capital--a pillar of strength in our state--to show our support and dedication to World Alzheimer's Action Day. We are here to shine some light on a very serious illness that currently has no cure, and the medications that are currently being prescribed are of little help.
Without your help, we will see this erupt into crisis proportions.
If you think this country is broken now, just wait for the epidemic to hit. Since Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death--a slow and debilitating death--that can't be prevented, cured, or even slowed, we will see it further burden our country's debt.
The time to act is now. Get involved. Join local Alzheimer's walks. Raise money and awareness. Let our elected officials know that we need to make Alzheimer's research a priority.
Your voice does count.
If you want to see who will be the next in line for the wrath of Alzheimer's, just look in the mirror.
You could be the family member, caregiver, or, God forbid, the patient.
Remember, it's all about seeing the light." --Carol M., September 21, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska
Chris was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's a few years ago, and he and his wife, Carol, have been very active in the cause ever since. On the steps of the capital, Carol spoke for just a few minutes, but her words add another important voice to the growing demand for a cure:
"We are Carol and Chris M---, and we are living with Alzheimer's.
If there is only one thing that I know for sure, it's that life is unpredictable. One minute you are on top of the world--practicing medicine, going on military deployments, being active, independent, and social.
The next minute--during a deployment in Iraq, you fall and have a bad head injury. All the while, you have no idea that this concussive injury could be exacerbating and underlying condition: a condition that will change your life forever, or maybe even cut it short.
Your doctors are saying, 'I don't know what's wrong with you, but you shouldn't practice medicine or drive anymore...and we will re-evaluate this again in six months.... Oh, and by the way, let's start you on this medication for Alzheimer's, but I don't think that's what you have....'
The process of getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is long and involved, and the idea that the one you love might actually have Alzheimer's is down-right scary--especially when you know there is no cure.
At age 56, that's a tough pill to swallow. That's our prime. That's when we're active in our careers and our lives. We shouldn't be worried about a long-term, debilitating illness that robs us of time.
Alzheimer's takes on many faces. Some folks are really troubled with memory, thinking, and reasoning, while others struggle with visual-spacial disturbances. Activities of daily living, such as dressing, grooming, making simple meals, or using the telephone are now frustrating tasks that were once a matter of routine.
The disease plays no favorites. It's currently affecting more than 5 million individuals; some, I've been told, are in their 30's. This is no longer seen as a disease that affects old people in nursing homes.
It's your grandparents, your parents, your siblings and spouses and children.
It's your neighbor.
We are lighting the capital--a pillar of strength in our state--to show our support and dedication to World Alzheimer's Action Day. We are here to shine some light on a very serious illness that currently has no cure, and the medications that are currently being prescribed are of little help.
Without your help, we will see this erupt into crisis proportions.
If you think this country is broken now, just wait for the epidemic to hit. Since Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death--a slow and debilitating death--that can't be prevented, cured, or even slowed, we will see it further burden our country's debt.
The time to act is now. Get involved. Join local Alzheimer's walks. Raise money and awareness. Let our elected officials know that we need to make Alzheimer's research a priority.
Your voice does count.
If you want to see who will be the next in line for the wrath of Alzheimer's, just look in the mirror.
You could be the family member, caregiver, or, God forbid, the patient.
Remember, it's all about seeing the light." --Carol M., September 21, 2011
Lincoln, Nebraska
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