At the age of 22 and newly married was the first time I knew anyone with memory loss that wasn't old. My Mother-in-law often didn't know who her son was, never understood who I was and later that the baby we had was her granddaughter. In the summer of 1980 was the first time I ever heard the words 'Alzheimer's Disease". My father-in-law thought the doctor said she had "Old-timer's Disease". She was only in her mid to later 50's when she started showing signs of memory loss. She passed away from it in 1992.
Life continues on. In 2011 my husband Jerry decided to take early retirement. A short time after I start noticing something is off. I tried ignoring it until the day the school called that our grandson was sick and needed to be picked up. Jerry took the call but never went to pick him up. Didn't even remember getting the called.
Alzheimer's is once again in my world. The difference this time it wasn't someone I didn't know well. It was my Husband, the love of my life. I saw him go from being a highly intelligent top-level engineer to having the mind of a child in less than ten years. In January of 2022 he left this world due to Alzheimer's. I will miss him forever. Sadly Jerry's brother also died of dementia 3 months later also.
Almost everyone I talk to knows someone affected by some form of dementia with the majority being Alzheimer, el tipo más común.
My daughter Renee started participating on the Ride to End Alz in 2021, just a few months before her Father passed away and will continue to participate. This year, for the first time, I'm getting on my bicycle, after not riding for 55 years, and riding myself. I am so proud and excited to be doing this.
También me inspira la ciencia. En los últimos años ha habido muchos avances en Alzheimer's Investigación. No faltan ideas, solo faltan fondos. Por eso participo en el Ride, un evento ciclista de primer nivel con todo el apoyo que apoya a la Alzheimer's AssociationEl esfuerzo por descubrir métodos de tratamiento y prevención de la enfermedad.
Con cada milla que recorro, estoy recaudando fondos para avanzar en la investigación para encontrar al primer sobreviviente de Alzheimer's. Gracias por animarme.
Viajo en memoria de mi esposo de 44 años, Jerry.
I ride in memory of my brother-in-law, Harold.
I ride in memory of my Mother-in-law, Charlotte.
Viajo en memoria y en honor a los amigos que ya no están aquí y a aquellos que están en la espiral descendente de esta enfermedad.
Salgo a andar en honor a las familias y a los cuidadores que observan lentamente.
¡CABALO POR UN FUTURO SIN ALZHEIMER!
PS: Unlike many events 100% of funds raised for Ride to End ALZ Texas go to research. A corporate sponsor, along with the National Alzheimer's Association
¡Anímame!