As I was scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon this article related to something else entirely. It was about police walking away from a situation that involved a mentally ill individual. You know how off to the side they have those "related articles," I saw one that mentioned medications leading to Alzheimer's disease and decided to read it. It is frightening!
As per Google when I went to search for the article again.
"Older people who have relied on a class of drugs called benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety or induce sleep are at higher risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's disease, new research finds, with those whose use of the medications is most intensive almost twice as likely to develop the mind-robbing disorder."
Alzheimer's and/or dementia is bad enough, but why are we "poisoning" our population with drugs that could potentially cause dementia or worsening of this horrid disease?
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-sn-anxiety-drug-alzheimers-20140909-story.html
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/sleeping-drugs-increased-risk-alzheimers
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/benzodiazepine-use-may-raise-risk-alzheimers-disease-201409107397
If you are dealing with someone with dementia, I highly encourage you to talk to his/her doctor about the medications he/she is taking and, if at all possible, remove the medication from his/her regimen. Sometimes the risks far outweigh any benefits one might experience.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Tony Abbott Cuts Funding for Caregivers
This is another frightening blow for Alzheimer's caregivers. Yes, I realize Tony Abbott is out of Australia, but Alzheimer's is Alzheimer's no matter the country. It is a horrid, mean, nasty disease and to take money away from caregivers is unfair.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/the-blocks-shaynna-blaze-attacks-pm-tony-abbott-over-budget-cuts-to-health-program/story-fn907478-1227012670477
A couple of excerpts from the above referenced article - "An estimated 332,000 Australians live with dementia but the country’s rapidly ageing population means that figure is expected to jump by one-third to 400,000 in the next decade.
"Experts say without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia will reach 900,000 by 2050."
These statistics are frightening.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Glen Campbell and Alzheimer's
I don't know if any of you are country music fans or if you know who Glen Campbell is. He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I just found this fascinating article about his disease, written by his wife. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/24/faith-alzheimer-and-my-husband-glen-campbell/
You see, Alzheimer's does not discriminate. It does not care if you are famous. It does not care if you are a singer, a writer, a politician, or just an "every day" person. It does not care. Alzheimer's is mean.
Mr. Campbell also did a farewell tour when he knew what was happening to him. That is sad, don't you think? When the person knows something is wrong? Click on the link above and it will take you directly to the Fox News article. He wrote one final song "before Alzheimer's took him away."
Here is the article as written by his wife, Kim Campbell, who I suspect will become another of my heroes.
My husband, Glen Campbell, has stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Seven months ago, at the recommendation of his doctors, we placed him in a memory care facility close to our home in Nashville.
It’s a community that’s designed specifically for the needs of those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They have all kinds of therapies and activities that stimulate parts of the brain affected by the illness. It’s a safe and secure environment where he receives around-the-clock care.
It’s been good for him. He just seems more at peace there than he was at home, where he became increasingly agitated and frantic.
He lives in a mental fog most of the time. He’s lost most of his language skills and has a hard time communicating. He still has moments of lucidity, though, and those moments let us know he’s still in there and that he’s the Glen we’ve always known. He can make short sentences and say things like “I love you” and “We are so blessed.”
The aides and nurses say he must have been a godly man because they always see him thanking the Lord. I’ve seen him walk over to the window and lift up his hands and say, “Thank you, heavenly Father.”
Those moments are so comforting because when you’re facing your mortality, that’s when you want to know God is there. That’s when you really want to draw close to Him.
When I see him do that, I know God is with him, and he’s aware of His presence. He’s relying on the Lord and gets his strength from Him.
People should not give up on others who have dementia. The essence of who they are is still alive and still in there.
He’s still the Glen Campbell he’s always been. He’s always especially loved children and old people. There’s this little lady in a wheelchair in the facility, and she can’t speak at all. He will walk over to her and take her little hand in his and say, “You are so precious.”
He’ll kiss her on the forehead, and she’ll just look up at him. She has no idea who he is, but you can tell it comforts her.
Even in his affliction, he’s ministering to people and trying to be a blessing.
In between those moments, he’s lost. He wanders. He can’t communicate. He doesn’t understand what others say to him. It’s very hard to direct him even to sit in a chair in the dining room.
When we did the film, “Glen Campbell... I’ll Be Me,” which documents his last farewell tour, Glen was in stages 2-4. He knew what was happening to him and he wanted to let people know what Alzheimer’s is really like.
He was passionate about making this film because he hoped it would be a catalyst for more funding for research to find a cure. He wanted to encourage other families who are dealing with this disease to keep living their lives, supporting each other and lifting each other up.
When Glen got the diagnosis and decided to go public, it was because he wanted fans to know what was going on in case he exhibited odd behavior on stage, like repeating a song or forgetting what key it was in.
He just wanted them to understand. But after he made the announcement, we all wondered if anyone would want to come see someone with Alzheimer’s perform.
We wondered if his fans would rather remember him the way he was. Maybe it would be depressing. Or maybe no one would be interested either way.
But what we found was the exact opposite. The first show he did after making the announcement sold out. From the time he walked on stage to the time he walked off, it was one standing ovation after another. It was clear fans were there to shower him with love and to root for, support and encourage him. It really blessed Glen and encouraged him to continue on.
Offers began to pour in from around the country for Glen to come to their cities to perform.
What began as a five-week farewell tour turned into 151 dates. His last show was at the Uptown Theater in Napa, Calif., on Nov. 30, 2012.
The first 15-20 minutes were a train wreck. He was having difficulties. His guitar wasn’t loud enough. It didn’t have the quality he wanted. He became very agitated on stage. He kept turning his back to the audience. His band was very uncomfortable. It was a tough show.
But the audience, again, was so supportive. They cheered for him without fail and without question. They loved him unconditionally.
He snapped back and finished the show strong. It was good, but it was clear it was time for us to end the tour and say farewell.
He closed the show with “A Better Place.”
Daily we pray for grace and mercy as he approaches the final stages of this illness and are so thankful for the moments we see Glen being Glen.
Kim Campbell is married to country music singer Glen Campbell.
Here is the YouTube video link to Mr. Campbell's song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TsAh-zYFI
You see, Alzheimer's does not discriminate. It does not care if you are famous. It does not care if you are a singer, a writer, a politician, or just an "every day" person. It does not care. Alzheimer's is mean.
Mr. Campbell also did a farewell tour when he knew what was happening to him. That is sad, don't you think? When the person knows something is wrong? Click on the link above and it will take you directly to the Fox News article. He wrote one final song "before Alzheimer's took him away."
Here is the article as written by his wife, Kim Campbell, who I suspect will become another of my heroes.
My husband, Glen Campbell, has stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Seven months ago, at the recommendation of his doctors, we placed him in a memory care facility close to our home in Nashville.
It’s a community that’s designed specifically for the needs of those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They have all kinds of therapies and activities that stimulate parts of the brain affected by the illness. It’s a safe and secure environment where he receives around-the-clock care.
He lives in a mental fog most of the time. He’s lost most of his language skills and has a hard time communicating. He still has moments of lucidity, though, and those moments let us know he’s still in there and that he’s the Glen we’ve always known. He can make short sentences and say things like “I love you” and “We are so blessed.”
The aides and nurses say he must have been a godly man because they always see him thanking the Lord. I’ve seen him walk over to the window and lift up his hands and say, “Thank you, heavenly Father.”
Those moments are so comforting because when you’re facing your mortality, that’s when you want to know God is there. That’s when you really want to draw close to Him.
When I see him do that, I know God is with him, and he’s aware of His presence. He’s relying on the Lord and gets his strength from Him.
People should not give up on others who have dementia. The essence of who they are is still alive and still in there.
He’s still the Glen Campbell he’s always been. He’s always especially loved children and old people. There’s this little lady in a wheelchair in the facility, and she can’t speak at all. He will walk over to her and take her little hand in his and say, “You are so precious.”
He’ll kiss her on the forehead, and she’ll just look up at him. She has no idea who he is, but you can tell it comforts her.
Even in his affliction, he’s ministering to people and trying to be a blessing.
In between those moments, he’s lost. He wanders. He can’t communicate. He doesn’t understand what others say to him. It’s very hard to direct him even to sit in a chair in the dining room.
When we did the film, “Glen Campbell... I’ll Be Me,” which documents his last farewell tour, Glen was in stages 2-4. He knew what was happening to him and he wanted to let people know what Alzheimer’s is really like.
He was passionate about making this film because he hoped it would be a catalyst for more funding for research to find a cure. He wanted to encourage other families who are dealing with this disease to keep living their lives, supporting each other and lifting each other up.
When Glen got the diagnosis and decided to go public, it was because he wanted fans to know what was going on in case he exhibited odd behavior on stage, like repeating a song or forgetting what key it was in.
He just wanted them to understand. But after he made the announcement, we all wondered if anyone would want to come see someone with Alzheimer’s perform.
We wondered if his fans would rather remember him the way he was. Maybe it would be depressing. Or maybe no one would be interested either way.
But what we found was the exact opposite. The first show he did after making the announcement sold out. From the time he walked on stage to the time he walked off, it was one standing ovation after another. It was clear fans were there to shower him with love and to root for, support and encourage him. It really blessed Glen and encouraged him to continue on.
Offers began to pour in from around the country for Glen to come to their cities to perform.
What began as a five-week farewell tour turned into 151 dates. His last show was at the Uptown Theater in Napa, Calif., on Nov. 30, 2012.
The first 15-20 minutes were a train wreck. He was having difficulties. His guitar wasn’t loud enough. It didn’t have the quality he wanted. He became very agitated on stage. He kept turning his back to the audience. His band was very uncomfortable. It was a tough show.
But the audience, again, was so supportive. They cheered for him without fail and without question. They loved him unconditionally.
He snapped back and finished the show strong. It was good, but it was clear it was time for us to end the tour and say farewell.
He closed the show with “A Better Place.”
Daily we pray for grace and mercy as he approaches the final stages of this illness and are so thankful for the moments we see Glen being Glen.
Kim Campbell is married to country music singer Glen Campbell.
Here is the YouTube video link to Mr. Campbell's song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TsAh-zYFI
Thursday, March 5, 2015
7 Stages of Alzheimer's
There are 7 stages of Alzheimer's disease. These are as found on the Alzheimer's Association web site (alz.org).
Stage 1: No impairment (normal function): The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.
Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease): The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses - forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.
Stage 1: No impairment (normal function): The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.
Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease): The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses - forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.
| Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms): Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include: - Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name - Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people - Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings. Forgetting material that one has just read - Losing or misplacing a valuable object - Increasing trouble with planning or organizing Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline (mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease): At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas: - Forgetfulness of recent events - Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic - for example, counting backward from 100 by 7's - Greater difficulty performing complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills or managing finances - Forgetfulness about one's own personal history - Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline (moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease): Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, those with Alzheimer's may: - Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated - Become confused about where they are or what day it is - Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; such as counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4's or from 20 by 2's - Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion - Still remember significant details about themselves and their family - Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline (moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease): Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may: - Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings - Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history - Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver - Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet - Experience major changes in sleep patterns - sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night - Need help handing details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping or disposing of tissue properly) - Having increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels - Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an imposter) or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand wringing or tissue shredding - Tend to wander or become lost Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline (severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease): In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases. At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired. Remember: It is difficult to place a person with Alzheimer's in a specific stage as stages may overlap. If you would like to share your story of dealing with Alzheimer's, please do not hesitate to contact me (mjammons@comcast.net). Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's. |
Monday, March 2, 2015
New Facebook Page!
I am please to announce the launching of my new Facebook page!
I have also chosen this design to be my cover photo and my business card!
This new page is a culmination of both of my other pages, Melissa A's Beaded Makes and Melissa A's Rosary Page. I will have my other two pages active on Facebook, I just won't be posting to them as often. It will take some time to get all my pictures moved over, but I do have a few uploaded. Come on over and take a peek!
https://www.facebook.com/melissaacraftingforacause
I have also chosen this design to be my cover photo and my business card!
This new page is a culmination of both of my other pages, Melissa A's Beaded Makes and Melissa A's Rosary Page. I will have my other two pages active on Facebook, I just won't be posting to them as often. It will take some time to get all my pictures moved over, but I do have a few uploaded. Come on over and take a peek!
https://www.facebook.com/melissaacraftingforacause
Friday, February 27, 2015
My Crafting Efforts to Raise Money
These are a few of the projects I have available, of which a portion will be set aside to be donated to the Alzheimer's Association at the end of 2015.
This is one of my Alzheimer's Rosaries, the awareness color being purple.
This is a white ornament decorated in purple tones.
To see more:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
If anyone would like to share their story of dealing with Alzheimer's and/or dementia, feel free to contact me at mjammons@comcast.net. Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
This is one of my Alzheimer's Rosaries, the awareness color being purple.
This is a white ornament decorated in purple tones.
To see more:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
If anyone would like to share their story of dealing with Alzheimer's and/or dementia, feel free to contact me at mjammons@comcast.net. Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
History of Alzheimer's
This article will give you a breakdown and the timeline for the history of Alzheimer's ...
http://www.alz.org/research/science/major_milestones_in_alzheimers.asp
I encourage you to take the time to read this article. Fascinating.
From the above timeline ...
In 2010, Alzheimer's advances to the sixth-leading cause of US deaths - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics releases final 2007 data showing that Alzheimer's disease is now our sixth-leading cause of death.
How scary is that?
http://www.alz.org/research/science/major_milestones_in_alzheimers.asp
I encourage you to take the time to read this article. Fascinating.
From the above timeline ...
In 2010, Alzheimer's advances to the sixth-leading cause of US deaths - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics releases final 2007 data showing that Alzheimer's disease is now our sixth-leading cause of death.
How scary is that?
Friday, February 20, 2015
Faye's story - my mother-in-law
While I am sitting here looking for different articles on Alzheimer's to share with you and to educate myself, I stumbled across an article related to celebrities and how they have been touched by Alzheimer's. I appreciate their efforts, but Alzheimer's touches more than just celebrities. It touches every day people, people like you and me, people like my mother-in-law.
Yesterday, January 27, 2015, was Faye's birthday. We made sure to call her, even while we are on vacation. Sadly, she had no clue it was even her birthday. It was not a good day. When I talked to her for a few minutes, I asked her how she was feeling. She told me she was feeling fine and then went on to talk about how when her plate was empty these people would bring her more food. I have no clue what she was even talking about. Sigh. This is Alzheimer's and the effect it has on one's memory.
When we go out to dinner, the constant questions are where are we? Have I been here before? What did we order? What's the main dish? They are constant and we exercise a great deal of patience when answering or we just do our best to change the subject. Sadly, it is hard for Faye to "keep up," so to speak, with the conversation and I personally believe this makes her feel left out of a lot.
She seems to do fine in her own environment, her home, but when she is taken out of her "comfort zone," I think a little panic and worry sets in. More and more, she is not recognizing people in pictures that we have hanging in our living room, to include her husband. More and more, she is forgetting even her son's name. This is so heartbreaking on so many levels! If you have never dealt with a loved one with this mean disease, you have no idea ... I know it hurts my husband's heart even if he won't admit it.
On the flip side, this lady seems to have so much energy! We cannot even begin to keep up ... it is almost as if not only has her mind reverted to being a child, so to speak, but so has her energy level.
It also seems that her brain function, for lack of a better term, seems to do better when she eats properly. Her husband, Les, tends to cook way too much and he cooks things that Faye just will not eat, for whatever reason. So, when they stay at home to eat, her diet consists mostly of chicken patties and bananas.
For a while, she was on so many medications, when she would take them, that it wasn't even funny. We started investigating what the side effects for these meds were as she was losing a lot of weight - fast - and she just was not eating, not even a chicken patty! Well, we found out that most of the meds would cause lack of taste and lack of appetite. Off to the doctor we went (I was seriously concerned about her weight loss as she has had colon cancer in the past, or at least polyps) and off the meds she went! What an improvement! Her appetite came back and so did the weight. What a relief! Quite frankly, other than her memory and some deterioration in her kidney function, Faye is healthier than we are! No joke!
One of the scariest things Faye does is wander off. She will get separated from her husband in the store from time to time. It is a very hard thing, but when an individual has dementia you cannot tell them to "meet me at McDonald's at 2PM" and expect them to remember. It is a sad thing. Anyway, she will get separated from him and somehow find a stranger to give her a ride home. Just how she knows where she lives, I don't know. I truly believe it is only through the kindness of strangers and, literally, through the Grace of God that she gets home safely. One time she was found in front of the dollar store by their housekeeper and her husband was still in the store, but because of her dementia she thought he had left her there. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease. (We do have her registered with the police department - I highly encourage you all to do this as well, register your loved ones!)
So, yes, while I think it is an awesome thing the celebrities do when they share their own stories as it helps get the word out about this devastating disease, I think it is even more important for every day people, people like you and me, to do the same thing. I don't think there is enough attention given to Alzheimer's - especially since it is the sixth leading cause of death here in the US ... we need to do more. There has to be more we can do. I think through educating myself and sharing stories, we are taking a step in the right direction. Feel free to contact me and we can share your story with pictures, a favorite Bible verse, a poem, a song, just words ... whatever will help to get the word out - mjammons@comcast.net.
After having lost a loved one to this devastating disease, and feeling the unbelievability of it all, it is my goal, even more than ever - to "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
Yesterday, January 27, 2015, was Faye's birthday. We made sure to call her, even while we are on vacation. Sadly, she had no clue it was even her birthday. It was not a good day. When I talked to her for a few minutes, I asked her how she was feeling. She told me she was feeling fine and then went on to talk about how when her plate was empty these people would bring her more food. I have no clue what she was even talking about. Sigh. This is Alzheimer's and the effect it has on one's memory.
When we go out to dinner, the constant questions are where are we? Have I been here before? What did we order? What's the main dish? They are constant and we exercise a great deal of patience when answering or we just do our best to change the subject. Sadly, it is hard for Faye to "keep up," so to speak, with the conversation and I personally believe this makes her feel left out of a lot.
She seems to do fine in her own environment, her home, but when she is taken out of her "comfort zone," I think a little panic and worry sets in. More and more, she is not recognizing people in pictures that we have hanging in our living room, to include her husband. More and more, she is forgetting even her son's name. This is so heartbreaking on so many levels! If you have never dealt with a loved one with this mean disease, you have no idea ... I know it hurts my husband's heart even if he won't admit it.
On the flip side, this lady seems to have so much energy! We cannot even begin to keep up ... it is almost as if not only has her mind reverted to being a child, so to speak, but so has her energy level.
It also seems that her brain function, for lack of a better term, seems to do better when she eats properly. Her husband, Les, tends to cook way too much and he cooks things that Faye just will not eat, for whatever reason. So, when they stay at home to eat, her diet consists mostly of chicken patties and bananas.
For a while, she was on so many medications, when she would take them, that it wasn't even funny. We started investigating what the side effects for these meds were as she was losing a lot of weight - fast - and she just was not eating, not even a chicken patty! Well, we found out that most of the meds would cause lack of taste and lack of appetite. Off to the doctor we went (I was seriously concerned about her weight loss as she has had colon cancer in the past, or at least polyps) and off the meds she went! What an improvement! Her appetite came back and so did the weight. What a relief! Quite frankly, other than her memory and some deterioration in her kidney function, Faye is healthier than we are! No joke!
One of the scariest things Faye does is wander off. She will get separated from her husband in the store from time to time. It is a very hard thing, but when an individual has dementia you cannot tell them to "meet me at McDonald's at 2PM" and expect them to remember. It is a sad thing. Anyway, she will get separated from him and somehow find a stranger to give her a ride home. Just how she knows where she lives, I don't know. I truly believe it is only through the kindness of strangers and, literally, through the Grace of God that she gets home safely. One time she was found in front of the dollar store by their housekeeper and her husband was still in the store, but because of her dementia she thought he had left her there. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease. (We do have her registered with the police department - I highly encourage you all to do this as well, register your loved ones!)
So, yes, while I think it is an awesome thing the celebrities do when they share their own stories as it helps get the word out about this devastating disease, I think it is even more important for every day people, people like you and me, to do the same thing. I don't think there is enough attention given to Alzheimer's - especially since it is the sixth leading cause of death here in the US ... we need to do more. There has to be more we can do. I think through educating myself and sharing stories, we are taking a step in the right direction. Feel free to contact me and we can share your story with pictures, a favorite Bible verse, a poem, a song, just words ... whatever will help to get the word out - mjammons@comcast.net.
After having lost a loved one to this devastating disease, and feeling the unbelievability of it all, it is my goal, even more than ever - to "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Alzheimer's is Not a Joke
I wonder if I am super sensitive to the subject of Alzheimer's. As I was scrolling through Facebook one evening, I saw something that was rather disturbing ... to me anyway.
A friend of mine had posted, as we all do, a miscellaneous fact about her father having forgotten his overnight bag when he came to their home. He went home and again forgot his bag. See? Just a random post about life. One of her friends commented to the effect that maybe he has Alzheimer's. Why is this a joke in our society?
That is as bad as using the word "retarded" in describing something, I think.
Alzheimer's is one of the 10 leading causes of death today!
This is a seriously mean, debilitating illness/disease that we need to educate ourselves about, not make jokes about.
A friend of mine had posted, as we all do, a miscellaneous fact about her father having forgotten his overnight bag when he came to their home. He went home and again forgot his bag. See? Just a random post about life. One of her friends commented to the effect that maybe he has Alzheimer's. Why is this a joke in our society?
That is as bad as using the word "retarded" in describing something, I think.
Alzheimer's is one of the 10 leading causes of death today!
This is a seriously mean, debilitating illness/disease that we need to educate ourselves about, not make jokes about.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Alois Alzheimer - The Man who Discovered Alzheimer's
As taken from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alois_Alzheimer
Dr. Aloysius "Alois" Alzheimer (German: [ˈaːloˌis ˈalts.haɪmɐ]; 14 June 1864 – 19 December 1915) was a Bavarian-born German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of "presenile dementia", which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer's disease.[1]
Alois Alzheimer was born in Marktbreit, Bavaria on 14 June 1864.[2] His father served in the office of notary public in the family's hometown.[3]
Alzheimer attended Aschaffenburg, Tübingen, Berlin, and Würzburg universities. He received a medical degree at Würzburg University in 1886. In the following year, he spent five months assisting mentally ill women, before he took an office in the city mental asylum in Frankfurt am Main: the Städtische Anstalt für Irre und Epileptische (Asylum for Lunatics and Epileptics). Emil Sioli (1852–1922) was the dean of the asylum. Another neurologist, Franz Nissl (1860–1919), began to work in the same asylum with Alzheimer, and they knew each other. Much of Alzheimer's later work on brain pathology made use of Nissl's method of silver staining of the histological sections. Alzheimer was the co-founder and co-publisher of the journal Zeitschrift für die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie, though he never wrote a book that he could call his own.
In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer observed a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum named Auguste Deter. The 51-year-old patient had strange behavioral symptoms, including a loss of short-term memory. This patient would become his obsession over the coming years. In April 1906, Mrs Deter died and Alzheimer had the patient records and the brain brought to Munich where he was working at Kraepelin's lab. With two Italian physicians, he used the staining techniques to identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. A speech given on 3 November 1906 was the first time the pathology and the clinical symptoms of presenile dementia were presented together.[4] Through extremely fortunate circumstances the original microscope preparations on which Alzheimer based his description of the disease were rediscovered some years ago in Munich and his findings could thus be reevaluated.[5]
Since German was the lingua franca of science[citation needed] (and especially of psychiatry) at that time, Kraepelin's use of Alzheimer's disease in a textbook made the name famous. By 1911, his description of the disease was being used by European physicians to diagnose patients in the US.[4]
In August 1912, Dr. Alzheimer fell ill on the train on his way to the University of Breslau, where he had been appointed professor of psychiatry in July 1912. Most probably he had a streptococcal infection and subsequent rheumatic fever leading to valvular heart disease, heart failure and kidney failure. He never recovered completely from this illness. He died of heart failure on 19 December 1915, at the age of 51 in Breslau, Silesia, presently Wrocław, Poland. He was buried on 23 December 1915 next to his wife Cecilie in the Hauptfriedhof in Frankfurt am Main.
Dr. Aloysius "Alois" Alzheimer (German: [ˈaːloˌis ˈalts.haɪmɐ]; 14 June 1864 – 19 December 1915) was a Bavarian-born German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of "presenile dementia", which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer's disease.[1]
Alois Alzheimer was born in Marktbreit, Bavaria on 14 June 1864.[2] His father served in the office of notary public in the family's hometown.[3]
Alzheimer attended Aschaffenburg, Tübingen, Berlin, and Würzburg universities. He received a medical degree at Würzburg University in 1886. In the following year, he spent five months assisting mentally ill women, before he took an office in the city mental asylum in Frankfurt am Main: the Städtische Anstalt für Irre und Epileptische (Asylum for Lunatics and Epileptics). Emil Sioli (1852–1922) was the dean of the asylum. Another neurologist, Franz Nissl (1860–1919), began to work in the same asylum with Alzheimer, and they knew each other. Much of Alzheimer's later work on brain pathology made use of Nissl's method of silver staining of the histological sections. Alzheimer was the co-founder and co-publisher of the journal Zeitschrift für die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie, though he never wrote a book that he could call his own.
In 1901, Dr. Alzheimer observed a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum named Auguste Deter. The 51-year-old patient had strange behavioral symptoms, including a loss of short-term memory. This patient would become his obsession over the coming years. In April 1906, Mrs Deter died and Alzheimer had the patient records and the brain brought to Munich where he was working at Kraepelin's lab. With two Italian physicians, he used the staining techniques to identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. A speech given on 3 November 1906 was the first time the pathology and the clinical symptoms of presenile dementia were presented together.[4] Through extremely fortunate circumstances the original microscope preparations on which Alzheimer based his description of the disease were rediscovered some years ago in Munich and his findings could thus be reevaluated.[5]
Since German was the lingua franca of science[citation needed] (and especially of psychiatry) at that time, Kraepelin's use of Alzheimer's disease in a textbook made the name famous. By 1911, his description of the disease was being used by European physicians to diagnose patients in the US.[4]
In August 1912, Dr. Alzheimer fell ill on the train on his way to the University of Breslau, where he had been appointed professor of psychiatry in July 1912. Most probably he had a streptococcal infection and subsequent rheumatic fever leading to valvular heart disease, heart failure and kidney failure. He never recovered completely from this illness. He died of heart failure on 19 December 1915, at the age of 51 in Breslau, Silesia, presently Wrocław, Poland. He was buried on 23 December 1915 next to his wife Cecilie in the Hauptfriedhof in Frankfurt am Main.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
First Person Diagnosed with Alzheimer's
Google search - Auguste Deter (German pronunciation: [aʊ̯ˈɡʊstə ˈdeːtɐ]; 16 May 1850 – 8 April 1906) is the first person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her maiden name is unknown. She married Karl Deter in the 1880s and together they had one daughter. Auguste had a normal life.
As found on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Deter
Auguste Deter (German pronunciation: [aʊ̯ˈɡʊstə ˈdeːtɐ]; 16 May 1850 – 8 April 1906) is the first person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her maiden name is unknown. She married Karl Deter in the 1880s and together they had one daughter. Auguste had a normal life. However, during the late 1890s, she started showing symptoms of dementia, such as: loss of memory, delusions, and even temporary vegetative states. She would have trouble sleeping, would drag sheets across the house, and even scream for hours in the middle of the night.
Karl could not take it any more. Being a railway worker, he had to admit her to a mental institution so that he could continue to work. He brought her to the Institution for the Mentally Ill and for Epileptics in Frankfurt, Germany, on 25 November 1901 where she was examined by Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He asked her many questions, and later asked again to see if she remembered. He told her to write her name. She tried to, but would forget the rest and repeat: "I have lost myself." (German: "Ich hab mich verloren.") He later put her in an isolation room for a while. When he released her, she would run out screaming, "I do not cut myself. I will not cut myself." Her words have been commemorated in an important work, commissioned by the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, composed by Robert Cohen and librettist Herschel Garfein, entitled "Alzheimer Stories".
After many years, she became completely demented, muttering to herself. She died on 8 April 1906. More than a century later, her case was re-examined with modern medical technologies, where a genetic cause was found for her disease by scientists from Gießen and Sydney. The results were published in the journal The Lancet Neurology. According to this paper, a mutation in the PSEN1 gene was found, which alters the function of gamma secretase, and is a known cause of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Rediscovery of Auguste Deter's medical records
In 1996, Dr. Konrad Maurer and his colleagues, Drs. Volk and Gerbaldo, rediscovered the medical record of Auguste Deter.[1] In it Dr. Alzheimer had recorded his examination of his patient,
Around midday, Frau Auguste D. ate pork and cauliflower.
In 1902, Alzheimer left the "Irrenschloss" (Castle of the Insane),[3] as the Institution was known colloquially, to take up a position in Munich but he made frequent calls to Frankfurt inquiring about Deter's condition. On 9 April 1906, Alzheimer received a call from Frankfurt that Auguste Deter had died. He requested that her medical records and brain be sent to him. Her chart recorded that in the last years of her life, her condition had deteriorated considerably. Her death was the result of sepsis caused by an infected bedsore. On examining her brain, he found senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.[2]
Auguste D - the "face" of Alzheimer's. I think her story is just as important today as it was in 1901.
As found on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Deter
Auguste Deter (German pronunciation: [aʊ̯ˈɡʊstə ˈdeːtɐ]; 16 May 1850 – 8 April 1906) is the first person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her maiden name is unknown. She married Karl Deter in the 1880s and together they had one daughter. Auguste had a normal life. However, during the late 1890s, she started showing symptoms of dementia, such as: loss of memory, delusions, and even temporary vegetative states. She would have trouble sleeping, would drag sheets across the house, and even scream for hours in the middle of the night.
Karl could not take it any more. Being a railway worker, he had to admit her to a mental institution so that he could continue to work. He brought her to the Institution for the Mentally Ill and for Epileptics in Frankfurt, Germany, on 25 November 1901 where she was examined by Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He asked her many questions, and later asked again to see if she remembered. He told her to write her name. She tried to, but would forget the rest and repeat: "I have lost myself." (German: "Ich hab mich verloren.") He later put her in an isolation room for a while. When he released her, she would run out screaming, "I do not cut myself. I will not cut myself." Her words have been commemorated in an important work, commissioned by the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, composed by Robert Cohen and librettist Herschel Garfein, entitled "Alzheimer Stories".
After many years, she became completely demented, muttering to herself. She died on 8 April 1906. More than a century later, her case was re-examined with modern medical technologies, where a genetic cause was found for her disease by scientists from Gießen and Sydney. The results were published in the journal The Lancet Neurology. According to this paper, a mutation in the PSEN1 gene was found, which alters the function of gamma secretase, and is a known cause of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Rediscovery of Auguste Deter's medical records
In 1996, Dr. Konrad Maurer and his colleagues, Drs. Volk and Gerbaldo, rediscovered the medical record of Auguste Deter.[1] In it Dr. Alzheimer had recorded his examination of his patient,
- "What is your name?“
- "Auguste.“
- "Family name?“
- "Auguste.“
- "What is your husband's name?“ - she hesitates, finally answers:
- "I believe ... Auguste.“
- "Your husband?“
- "Oh, so!“
- "How old are you?“
- "Fifty-one.“
- "Where do you live?“
- "Oh, you have been to our place“
- "Are you married?“
- "Oh, I am so confused.“
- "Where are you right now?“
- "Here and everywhere, here and now, you must not think badly of me.“
- "Where are you at the moment?“
- "We will live there.“
- "Where is your bed?“
- "Where should it be?“
Around midday, Frau Auguste D. ate pork and cauliflower.
- "What are you eating?“
- "Spinach.“ (She was chewing meat.)
- "What are you eating now?“
- "First I eat potatoes and then horseradish.“
- "Write a '5'."
- She writes: "A woman"
- "Write an '8'."
- She writes: "Auguste" (While she is writing she repeatedly says, "I have lost myself, so to say.")[2]
In 1902, Alzheimer left the "Irrenschloss" (Castle of the Insane),[3] as the Institution was known colloquially, to take up a position in Munich but he made frequent calls to Frankfurt inquiring about Deter's condition. On 9 April 1906, Alzheimer received a call from Frankfurt that Auguste Deter had died. He requested that her medical records and brain be sent to him. Her chart recorded that in the last years of her life, her condition had deteriorated considerably. Her death was the result of sepsis caused by an infected bedsore. On examining her brain, he found senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.[2]
Auguste D - the "face" of Alzheimer's. I think her story is just as important today as it was in 1901.
Friday, January 23, 2015
10 Signs of Alzheimer's
The definition of Alzheimer's - Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or another dementia. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees.
These are the 10 Signs of Alzheimer's as found on the Alzheimer's Association web site (alz.org).
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.
8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends consulting a physician. Early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.
If you would like to share your story of dealing with Alzheimer's, please do not hesitate to contact me (mjammons@comcast.net). Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
These are the 10 Signs of Alzheimer's as found on the Alzheimer's Association web site (alz.org).
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.
8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends consulting a physician. Early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.
If you would like to share your story of dealing with Alzheimer's, please do not hesitate to contact me (mjammons@comcast.net). Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's.
Friday, January 16, 2015
The Reagans
Nancy Reagan is my absolute hero.
I found this interesting article about Mr. Reagan's disease - http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/3/alzheimers-reagans-long-goodbye/?page=all
This is not about politics. This is not about making a movie. This is one of the many faces of Alzheimer's.
I remember watching an interview one time with Mr. Reagan ... 60 Minutes or something ... they asked him about Nancy. I remember him saying something to the effect that he "missed her as soon as she left the room." That is an amazing statement on their relationship, I think!
Why is Nancy Reagan my hero, you ask? Because she stayed. Through it all, she stayed. To me, that makes Nancy Reagan a remarkable woman. She stayed.
Alzheimer's is a devastating, heartbreaking disease. While most people may have thought about leaving or maybe putting their loved one in a home, and maybe she did, I don't know, but she stayed. Together, while he could, The Reagans brought some attention to Alzheimer's.
In the article I posted above, at the very end, it states that there were days when he didn't know her - she stayed.
If anyone would like to share their personal story of dealing with Alzheimer's, whether it be through care-giving or losing someone, do not hesitate to contact me: mjammons@comcast.net - We can tell your story with pictures, a favorite Bible verse, a poem, a prayer ...
Also, for those dealing with grief for whatever reason, remember we all heal in our own time, in our own way. Grief is as individual as we are. This web site can help - http://grief.com.
This is one of the faces of Alzheimer's. This is one of the faces of the many caretakers. This is the face of an amazing lady who stayed with her husband until the very end.
This is not political. This is not about movies. This is one of the many faces of Alzheimer's.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Nancy
It saddens me to write this. Nancy, my second mom, was born March 27, 1925, and passed on January 2, 2015. She had Alzheimer's. I feel so sad and so full of emptiness. I will miss her always. As selfish as it sounds, I am heartbroken. I have memories I'd love to share.
Like this one - do you remember the really in-depth conversation we had, just me and you, a few months after I first moved down here? I've been thinking on that lately.
And this one - do you remember the time we had Christmas at the house that I bought here in town? It was the first Christmas for me there ... you were there. Clark was there, the kids ... I don't believe we had any "strays" that year. Remember the oven fire? Wow! That sure was something wasn't it? I'm so surprised the house didn't burn down and I didn't have to buy a new stove! I loved having you there.
This picture means so much more to me now than it did. This was taken August 22, 2009, the day before our wedding. Nancy and her daughters, Dale and Lynn, made the trip to California for Randy and I. Mom took this picture and I am so glad she did. This was at a "party," of sorts, at Nancy's previous residence here in town. I loved her like a mom.
April 2010 - I went to Oregon for your birthday/Easter celebration. You were the lady of the day! I remember just sitting on the couch with you, just holding your hand. The kids were all wildly running around like kids do. I said something about this family getting larger. You agreed and told me you couldn't keep up with all of them. I cherish the memory! (This is me, Nancy, and my mom.)
April 2010 - surrounded by the whole family!
April 2010 - See that smile? Always present, always a smile for everyone!
December 2014 - Smiling forever. While I made the choice not to see you while you were sick, I cherish your memory and thank you for letting me be a part of your family. I am sure the emptiness and sadness will subside over time, but I will forever miss you!
If any of you are dealing with a loss, of any form, I found this great web site with the 5 stages of grief and some explanations. There is also a list on this site that has the "right" and "wrong" things to say. If you're like me, you never know what to say! Remember, your grief is as personal as you are - there is no timeline - you heal as best you can in your own time, no one else's. http://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/
If any of you would like to share your story and/or memories of a loved one who is battling or who has lost the battle with Alzheimer's, do not hesitate to contact me. We can write your story with pictures, a favorite Bible verse, a prayer ... mjammons@comcast.net. Let's help "put a face" to Alzheimer's!
Like this one - do you remember the really in-depth conversation we had, just me and you, a few months after I first moved down here? I've been thinking on that lately.
And this one - do you remember the time we had Christmas at the house that I bought here in town? It was the first Christmas for me there ... you were there. Clark was there, the kids ... I don't believe we had any "strays" that year. Remember the oven fire? Wow! That sure was something wasn't it? I'm so surprised the house didn't burn down and I didn't have to buy a new stove! I loved having you there.
This picture means so much more to me now than it did. This was taken August 22, 2009, the day before our wedding. Nancy and her daughters, Dale and Lynn, made the trip to California for Randy and I. Mom took this picture and I am so glad she did. This was at a "party," of sorts, at Nancy's previous residence here in town. I loved her like a mom.
April 2010 - I went to Oregon for your birthday/Easter celebration. You were the lady of the day! I remember just sitting on the couch with you, just holding your hand. The kids were all wildly running around like kids do. I said something about this family getting larger. You agreed and told me you couldn't keep up with all of them. I cherish the memory! (This is me, Nancy, and my mom.)
April 2010 - surrounded by the whole family!
April 2010 - See that smile? Always present, always a smile for everyone!
December 2014 - Smiling forever. While I made the choice not to see you while you were sick, I cherish your memory and thank you for letting me be a part of your family. I am sure the emptiness and sadness will subside over time, but I will forever miss you!
If any of you are dealing with a loss, of any form, I found this great web site with the 5 stages of grief and some explanations. There is also a list on this site that has the "right" and "wrong" things to say. If you're like me, you never know what to say! Remember, your grief is as personal as you are - there is no timeline - you heal as best you can in your own time, no one else's. http://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/
If any of you would like to share your story and/or memories of a loved one who is battling or who has lost the battle with Alzheimer's, do not hesitate to contact me. We can write your story with pictures, a favorite Bible verse, a prayer ... mjammons@comcast.net. Let's help "put a face" to Alzheimer's!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
As 2014 Comes To An End
One of my goals for 2015 is to "put a face" to Alzheimer's and dementia of all forms.
If you have followed my Facebook pages, you know this year (2014) I donated 1/4 of all of my sales proceeds to the Alzheimer's Association. I picked the Alzheimer's Association because they are one of the few organizations who actually put their pie chart of where the monies go on their web site. You can find them here: http://www.alz.org
ONLY 6% of all donations go to administration costs, with 17% going to fundraising and 77% going to Alzheimer's care, support, research, awareness, and advocacy. This is what I was able to donate this year.
Thank you to my friend, Tammy (who sent me several donations this year), the ladies at Scarf It (who also made donations), and all who made purchases this year. This only happened because of all of them!
I'd like to end 2014 with this Alzheimer's Prayer that I have seen from time to time. A friend of mine posted it on Facebook the other day and it just struck "home" for me. In the next few weeks, I will be "introducing" you to my mother-in-law and my second mom, who both suffer from Alzheimer's.
For 2015, my focus will be on creating Christmas ornaments and a portion of those sales proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. If anyone would like to share their story of dealing with Alzheimer's, do not hesitate to send me a note!
You can follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
I've also recently signed up for Tsu:
https://www.tsu.co/MelissaMT67
If you have followed my Facebook pages, you know this year (2014) I donated 1/4 of all of my sales proceeds to the Alzheimer's Association. I picked the Alzheimer's Association because they are one of the few organizations who actually put their pie chart of where the monies go on their web site. You can find them here: http://www.alz.org
ONLY 6% of all donations go to administration costs, with 17% going to fundraising and 77% going to Alzheimer's care, support, research, awareness, and advocacy. This is what I was able to donate this year.
I'd like to end 2014 with this Alzheimer's Prayer that I have seen from time to time. A friend of mine posted it on Facebook the other day and it just struck "home" for me. In the next few weeks, I will be "introducing" you to my mother-in-law and my second mom, who both suffer from Alzheimer's.
For 2015, my focus will be on creating Christmas ornaments and a portion of those sales proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. If anyone would like to share their story of dealing with Alzheimer's, do not hesitate to send me a note!
You can follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
I've also recently signed up for Tsu:
https://www.tsu.co/MelissaMT67
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Goal for 2015
Next year, 2015, I am going to focus on "putting a face" to Alzheimer's. I don't know exactly how I'm going to go about doing this, other than continuing to educate myself and sharing information. Through my crafting, which I will be sharing here as well as on my Facebook pages, I will be saving money to donate to the Alzheimer's Association at the end of 2015. I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas with this amazing video! May you have a prosperous 2015!
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152617748023717&pnref=story
Here is the origin of the above video: http://www.memorybridge.org/video9.php
More info: www.memorybridge.org
If any of you would like me to share your story of dealing Alzheimer's (dementia), feel free to contact me at either of my two Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
... or on my personal page
https://www.facebook.com/melissamt67
Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's!
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152617748023717&pnref=story
Here is the origin of the above video: http://www.memorybridge.org/video9.php
More info: www.memorybridge.org
If any of you would like me to share your story of dealing Alzheimer's (dementia), feel free to contact me at either of my two Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
https://www.facebook.com/melissabeadedmakes
... or on my personal page
https://www.facebook.com/melissamt67
Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The Opportunity House
The Opportunity House, here in Vacaville, California, had their first annual craft bazaar this past weekend, December 13, 2014. While this was not the most successful craft bazaar, I would do it again in a heartbeat! The purpose of this craft bazaar was to give the clients of the Opportunity House an opportunity to sell their crafts to earn Christmas money.
I met two phenomenal ladies, whom I will call Asia and Wendy. Wendy had some cards for sale and Asia had some wreaths she had made. The outlook on life these two women have is just phenomenal! They greeted everyone who came in that they knew with a hug, a smile, and a thank you for being here. Totally amazing! They were also very conscientious of the time as they each had jobs to get to, Asia working two jobs and Wendy working one job ... how often have we dreaded going to work? These ladies look forward to it! We could all learn a lot from just watching and interacting with them.
The Opportunity House has a motto - It All Starts With an Address. The new shelter was built within the past couple of years, through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers. You can find them here: http://www.opportunityhouse.us/. They also have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vacavilles-Opportunity-House/125173278111. To go along with their local shelter, they run a secondhand store, which you can find here: http://opportunityhouse.us/thrift-store.php.
That is just some background and a bit of my experience. I 100% support the Opportunity House here in town and their efforts. Not only do they help people get back on their feet, but they do NOT "abandon" their clients who move on into transitional housing. I cannot say enough about this shelter and here is just one reason why ... this is above and beyond!
I don't know when he walked in, but all of a sudden I heard a man talking on the phone. I believe he was from the mid-west. He was in need of a place to stay. T, the lady who was in charge that day, did all she could for him. She offered him lunch; it was provided in a heartbeat. She was then trying to figure out how to get him to Mission Solano in Fairfield, California. She knew nothing of the bus system here. A random person said that her mom worked for the transit system and she'd call her to get the information. She went outside and made her call. After, T was on the phone to Mission Solano doing her best to find out how to get this man where he needed to be. He had no money. While, honesty here, I was sitting there thinking I should give this man some money, I really should (for whatever reason I just am not that bold, but I should be!), T said - "B give me my envelope." Ohmigosh! Out of her own pocket, T, gave this man the money he needed to get him where he needed to be. To me, this is an overwhelming act of kindness that was done without question, without expectation. Maybe, lunch and enough money to get to Mission Solano aren't all that much in the whole scheme of things, but to this man on that day they were everything.
When I saw this Leo Buscaglia quote floating around yesterday, I knew it was appropriate for the story I am sharing.
I am certain that T's unselfish act has helped restore this man's faith in humanity and has helped to get him on the right track once again.
I met two phenomenal ladies, whom I will call Asia and Wendy. Wendy had some cards for sale and Asia had some wreaths she had made. The outlook on life these two women have is just phenomenal! They greeted everyone who came in that they knew with a hug, a smile, and a thank you for being here. Totally amazing! They were also very conscientious of the time as they each had jobs to get to, Asia working two jobs and Wendy working one job ... how often have we dreaded going to work? These ladies look forward to it! We could all learn a lot from just watching and interacting with them.
The Opportunity House has a motto - It All Starts With an Address. The new shelter was built within the past couple of years, through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers. You can find them here: http://www.opportunityhouse.us/. They also have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vacavilles-Opportunity-House/125173278111. To go along with their local shelter, they run a secondhand store, which you can find here: http://opportunityhouse.us/thrift-store.php.
That is just some background and a bit of my experience. I 100% support the Opportunity House here in town and their efforts. Not only do they help people get back on their feet, but they do NOT "abandon" their clients who move on into transitional housing. I cannot say enough about this shelter and here is just one reason why ... this is above and beyond!
I don't know when he walked in, but all of a sudden I heard a man talking on the phone. I believe he was from the mid-west. He was in need of a place to stay. T, the lady who was in charge that day, did all she could for him. She offered him lunch; it was provided in a heartbeat. She was then trying to figure out how to get him to Mission Solano in Fairfield, California. She knew nothing of the bus system here. A random person said that her mom worked for the transit system and she'd call her to get the information. She went outside and made her call. After, T was on the phone to Mission Solano doing her best to find out how to get this man where he needed to be. He had no money. While, honesty here, I was sitting there thinking I should give this man some money, I really should (for whatever reason I just am not that bold, but I should be!), T said - "B give me my envelope." Ohmigosh! Out of her own pocket, T, gave this man the money he needed to get him where he needed to be. To me, this is an overwhelming act of kindness that was done without question, without expectation. Maybe, lunch and enough money to get to Mission Solano aren't all that much in the whole scheme of things, but to this man on that day they were everything.
When I saw this Leo Buscaglia quote floating around yesterday, I knew it was appropriate for the story I am sharing.
I am certain that T's unselfish act has helped restore this man's faith in humanity and has helped to get him on the right track once again.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
The Kindness of Strangers
I want to share a story of strangers being kind to
strangers. This story involves my friend, Alicia (remember, the one whose
family lost their home due to a fire on November 30), and Mary M.
A picture of Alicia and her family.
Some background - I met Mary through a Facebook post of all
things! Mary is a graphic designer and had posted in one of the groups I am a
member of that she wanted to give back to small businesses, which is where she
got her start. She offered her graphic design services free of charge to 5
small businesses, all we had to do was send her an email and give her our “pitch.”
I am a horrid writer, so I hemmed and hawed and went back and forth. Finally, I
sent her an email ... I was picked! Not only did she offer to help 5 small
businesses, but she increased that amount to 12 total! Wow! The offer was for
brochures, business cards, logos, etc., etc. By this time, I had known Alicia,
through Facebook, for quite some time. She has become one of my dear friends
... it breaks my heart she and her family are going through this.
I had posted Alicia’s GoFundMe account. I had also posted a “feel
good” post from Alicia about the kindness that she and her family have been
experiencing from total strangers. I shared this post to my page (see below).
Mary commented that she wanted to help Alicia’s family, so through the miracle
of technology I connected them via the PM system on Facebook to keep things
private.
Alicia’s post: “I am so overwhelmed with the love and support of everyone
of you! Please remember to keep us in your prayers. The boys are wanting to go
to school tomorrow. Please pray that the other kids are kind to them and that
the boys have the strength to make it thru the day. I've been there once when I
was in 7th grade and it felt overwhelming at times. I will be going back to
work on Thursday, so same prayer for me. Our big dumpster will be delivered
tomorrow and Daniel will continue to tear the remains down. We are giving our
deck to our neighbors since they were the only ones without one. Today, a woman
who lost her home to the tornado last year donated a suitcase to us...she gave
us a brush, deodorant, pens, a notebook for me and ibprophen...you'd be amazed
at how those were some of the main things I was missing and really wanting!
And, I am assuming it's because she had been in this same situation and those
were the items she needed too! A friend gave me a pair of slippers, that too
brought a smile to my face. Though this is very hard for me, it's always in the
back of my mind about how difficult it is for my boys. I've been dishing out
extra hugs! Anyhow, we are so very thankful to Mike and Kay Davis for allowing
us to stay with them, they are a true blessing and very kind, warm hearted
people. We are also very thankful for each and everyone one of you...your
prayers mean a lot to us! Your kind words mean a lot to us. It's truly amazing.
sorry for the rambling on. Time to get some sleep. God Bless!”
Mary’s response: “I don't know the
circumstances, but having been there myself, ten years ago when we lost
everything to a house fire I can relate. How can I help? I would love to send
them some things to help get them by and even brighten their holidays if
possible.”
Alicia posted about a contest that some organization was
running, with the prizes being 2 guitars and a drum set. She was hoping that if
her son, Zach, was chosen he could have a trumpet instead ... his trumpet was
lost in this fire. Music does matter! I re-posted this content to my personal
wall, send an email nomination, and posted Alicia’s request on my page as well.
Mary, in turn, re-posted this information on her personal page asking if anyone
had a trumpet they would be willing to donate to Zach.
God in all his goodness know the people to bring together in
this situation. Mary has been able to secure a trumpet for Zach! As of today,
December 10, 2014, Mary’s daughter was taking said trumpet to school and the
music teacher there is going to give it a good once-over ... off it will go to
Zach.
Through Alicia’s family’s tragedy, it has been an amazing
process to me to watch so many people come together to help the West family get
back on their feet. Though they are dealing with a lot, they are banding
together ... all in good time will they have a new home and all the things that
were lost.
Always remember to be kind to one another.
A picture of Alicia and her family.
Friday, December 5, 2014
Grandma's Rosary
I received the following email from a young lady, Amanda.
"Hi Melissa. I am looking for a very special gift for my 97 year old Grandma. She means the world to me, and I think a handcrafted rosary would do the trick. Her favorite color is green. Have anything in mind?"
And she sent me this picture as well ...
Amanda then went on to post on a couple of green rosaries I have ready to ship, one Utah Jade and the other a simpler green traditional rosary with clover beads.
My gut reaction when I read Amanda's original email was "the green onyx." This is what I responded:
"I'm just throwing this out there, as this was my gut reaction when I first read your email, I have an awesome green onyx I can put together as well."
Our conversation continued. Amanda:
"That's my son in the picture with my grandma We drove straight from the hospital after having him to go see my grandma. She is just over the moon having him around...melts my heart! He's now two months old and she just adores him. Everything my grandmother has is Irish, green, or religious related. Having a rosary that combines all three would be so awesome! Thank you so much!"
The pictures I sent her.
Before I create any rosary, I lay out a pattern and send it to my customer for approval. Amanda requested a much simpler crucifix for her grandma.
Amanda picked the crucifix on the far left - "Far left!! Perfect for her. Let's go with the light and dark green onyx! With the clovers. She'll love it."
I showed Amanda the bottom part of her grandma's rosary.
After receiving final approval from Amanda, I went ahead and created her grandma's rosary.
Amanda, thank you for the opportunity to have created this for your awesome grandma!
If anyone were to ask my why rosaries are my joy, my peace, my passion, I would have to say it's the stories I am honored to hear and be told. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to create something so special.
For your own customized rosary visit me here: https://www.facebook.com/melissarosarypage
Monday, December 1, 2014
My friend, Alicia
December 5, 2014 - update - the first goal of 1000 has been met ... on to the second goal ...
My friend, Alicia, and her family lost everything yesterday in a house fire. This is their gofundme account.
This is devastating, especially at this time of year. Their fund is currently up to 385.00 - can we make it go higher? I know we can!
http://www.gofundme.com/i0wn1o?fb_action_ids=10205296463712582&fb_action_types=og.shares
To add a family picture ...
My friend, Alicia, and her family lost everything yesterday in a house fire. This is their gofundme account.
This is devastating, especially at this time of year. Their fund is currently up to 385.00 - can we make it go higher? I know we can!
http://www.gofundme.com/i0wn1o?fb_action_ids=10205296463712582&fb_action_types=og.shares
To add a family picture ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)