EXPLANATION TO ALL OUR DEAR FRIENDS

Many of you have been so sweet & kept tabs on Nick & I in our absence. Even though we may not have answered e-mails & such, we have so appreciated your efforts ... Believe me! We recently received horrible news about my Mother ... She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's & is already showing many heart-breaking symptoms. We all thought the issues were "just" from the numerous strokes she had, which could still be somewhat reversed with therapy & medical treatment. But instead, it appears that the strokes have actually been the major catalyst to activating the Alzheimer's. Seems she was genetically predisposed to getting Alzheimer's but since she is 79, this may or may not have occurred, or if it had ... It may have been quite mild. Instead, the strokes became the match that lit the fuse causing an explosion, so to speak. Caring for my Mother was one thing - well within my abilities - bu****ching her struggle with every breath & movement, & slip away from us has nearly broken me. My Nick has been with me every step of the way or I know I wouldn't have made it through even these last couple of months, let alone what is facing us in the future. Legal issues ... Medical issues ... Long-term care issues ... Safety issues ... Daily care issues ... Handling all this while trying to hold on to every moment we have left has left us exhausted. So, a couple of requests ... Hug & kiss your loved ones!!! Keep us in your prayers as a miracle from God is our only hope. &, know that Nick & I appreciate each & every one of you! God bless you ... Dawn & Nick PS: When I asked if I would also get Alzheimer's since genetics were involved, Doc said that "the best thing I could have ever done" to stop or slow the onset of Alzheimer's was to lose weight. Soooo, another medical blessing from our gastric bypass surgeries.

Dawn, That is so heartwrenching news. I think that has to be the hardest. We can "deal" with our parents getting sick, but then to have to watch them become distant and lose the memories would just be agonizing. I am soooo sooo sorry. I just pray that she will keep her memories of you and your family in tact. God can do anything!! My problems seem so small in light of this news, so I really appreciate your support while I am going through all of this. You are a blessing, and yes, it runs in my family too, so losing weight has been a blessing! Thanks for sharing that tidbit of info. I love you and I am here for you and will support you and Nick and your family in prayer!! You are a dear friend, and I am just so sad for you and your family, and appreciate you sharing this with us! God Bless!!! and bring you abundance of love and support at this time!!! Love you, Deb

YES MA'AM, I WASN'T READY FOR THIS ... IT REALLY KNOCKED ME TO THE GROUND, BUT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR MY PARENTS TO HELP THEM, KEEP OUR FAMILY TOGETHER & AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. &, WITH GOD'S BLESSINGS, WHO KNOWS WHAT WONDERFUL THINGS CAN HAPPEN ... NOPE, NO ONE'S PROBLEMS ARE "LIGHT" ... BUT, THEY SEEM "LIGHTER" WHEN WE CAN SHARE THEM WITH LOVED ONES & GOOD FRIENDS & KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE FOUND IN YOU & IN ALL OUR FREINDS HERE & AT LCBBuddies. WE LOVE YOU AS WELL SWEETIE ... KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS AS WE KEEP YOU IN OURS! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK

I know what you're going through, five years ago my mother at the age of 65 was dx with Alzhemer's and she had many mini strokes that also caused the onset of the disease. She was so sad, because she couldn't remember if she ate or if she hadn't. She didn't get so bad that she would forget her children, just the small things, then God took her home before she got any worse. I've never had anything to rip my heart out like losing my mother. I agree with you, love your parents while you have them, when they are gone, there is a huge emptiness in your heart that can never be filled. And I to am getting this weight off and having this surgery so I can hopefully offset any type of onset of Alzhemier's. I am praying for you, it's very hard to see someone who has taken care of you, losing their way and you now helping them. Linda

Not that I would ever wish this on anyone, but it was so comforting to hear that someone has gone through this & understands. It's not like illness ... It's like a living death; a nightmare you can't wake up from ... I have to shake myself out of it because I find that I'm grieving as I watch her struggle become harder & harder. On my drive over to my parents home, I am talking to myself trying to get myself "pumped up" & then I cheerfully say, "Hi Momma" & wait ... When she knows who I am, I can breath again. Then, the rough part begins ... Trying to act "normal" so as not to do anything to jeopardize her hope. Yes ma'am ... Minutes are precious now. When momma had her first stroke, we came in off the road & bought a house within a mile of theirs just so we could be near them. About a year & a half ago, we decided that I should quit work to help Daddy with Momma's care. It has been stressful financially, but Nick has taken the full load on himself so I can be free to care for Momma & help Daddy. We have no regrets from our decisions. Before gastric bypass surgery, Nick & I were actually talking about him going on in life after my early death ... That's how poor my health was. Let me tell you ... This surgery saved my life. Within weeks, my health was improving & now ALLLLLLL my co-morbs are gone & I no longer take 29 doses of meds a day for those co-morbs. I have been shocked at how many medical problems were actually caused by me because I wasn't eating healthy & because I was obese. I'm still learning to make better & better decisions. So, when Doc said that Alzheimer's could actually be stopped or slowed just from losing weight, it was another witness that my decisions have a tremendous effect on my own health or lack of it. This is the best decision I ever made for myself, Ms Linda, & I pray it will be just as helpful for you! God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

Hey Dawn my heart and prayers go out to you. My mother was diagnosed when she was 59. She passed away when she was 69, three years ago. I was able to help my daddy take such great care for her and she was able to stay at home all but her last 2 months with us. Watching her go thru the stages and waiting for what she would lose next was horrific. I know exactly what you are going thru. I celebrated my 1 year this past Tues. It has been the most wonderful journey of my life and I am so grateful that I have had no complications. Being able to play with my kids and take care of my house is wonderful. Everyday is a WOW moment. I was just lurking to see when your anniversary was when I came across your post. I am so very sorry. Jane C

THANK YOU MS JANE; WE SO APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS. THAT IS WHAT DADDY & I ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO DO ... TAKE CARE OF HER AT HOME. DID YOU GET ANY HOME HELP? IF YOU DID, WOULD YOU MIND E-MAILING ME & TELLING ME WHAT KIND OF HELP YOU GOT, ETC? NICK JUST HEARD AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR "AT HOME INSTEAD", A MEDICAL ASSISTANT TYPE SERVICE I THINK. WE'RE SO SORRY YOU WENT THROUGH THIS AS WELL ... AS DID & ARE SO MANY OTHERS RIGHT HERE ON THE BOARD ... WE'RE SHOCKED AT HOW MANY FAMILIES THIS DISEASE EFFECTS. *** A MAJOR "CONGRATS" ON YOUR 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY ... THE CHANGE IN YOU IS AMAZING, LADY! JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE ... YOU LOOK ALIVE & VIBRANT ... YOUNGER & RARING TO GO! UNBELIEVABLE WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN ONLY A YEAR! MINE IS THIS SATURDAY. EVEN THOUGH MY JOURNEY WAS NOT EASY, I WOULD STILL GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AGAIN JUST TO LOSE THESE FIRST 100 #s ... I'M STILL LOOKING TO LOSE ANOTHER 40 #s. THAT WOULD MEAN THAT I WOULD HAVE LOST HALF OF ME, AN ENTIRE ADULT PERSON GONE FROM MY BODY! STAY IN TOUCH! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK

Dawn, I am soo sorry to hear about your sad news. I wish three were something I could do or say, just know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. You know we are here for you if you ever need anything. Love ya kylee

THANK YOU MS KYLEE. JUST KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL FRIENDS IS A GREAT HELP. KEEP THOSE THOUGHTS & PRAYERS COMING! WE'RE HANGING ON TO EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK

My father has recently been diagosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimers. Yes it is heart wrenching and living a couple of states away makes it even more depressing. Of course he actually doesn't miss me....he tells my siblings that I came to visit a couple of weeks ago and it's been a few months. I think the first we knew of my dad having any problems is when he the police called his wife and said he couldn't find his way back home. He still says to this day that he just turned down some road he'd never been down before and got lost. He went to wal-mart which is 2 blocks from his house. I understand and symphatize with all you and your family are going through. God Bless Susan