when i was looking at the date for my interview that will be next monday august 9th
see link below for more info
i realized that my younger brother died on august 8th 8 years ago
its hard to believe its been that long
i have been thinking of him all week
when he was diagnosed about 7 years before he died in the final stages of alzheimers he was much further along than when i was diagnosed
i realize that had my drug aduhelm (aducanumab) been available for use when he was diagnosed that he may have been too far along in the disease process to qualify for being treated with this drug
this drug if it works will have to be given early in the disease process
maybe for it to really work it may have to be given even before symptoms start
when he was diagnosed my mother was headed into the final stages of alzheimers disease
i was soon to follow in about 5 years with my diagnosis
my mother died a couple years after he was diagnosed
this morning as i was writing this i realized that we have had someone in our immediate family with a diagnosis of alzheimers disease for over 20 years
its a nasty persistent disease leaving death and sorrow in its wake
i wrote this blog below a few days after his death
i remember crying as i wrote it
wiping the tears off my eyes and my computer keyboard
my younger brother a year younger than me was the mirror i looked at and could see myself sometime in the future
_________
08-12-2013
THE SMILE...
his smile and his blue eyes his quietness his willing to help
his love for his family his service to the community
all ended this last week
he is the face of alzheimers disease
he a father husband and grandfather with friends and family
that loved him
it took him away from all of us last week
that terrible disease that robs a persons brain and takes
over
and causes a downward decline that can not be stopped
no matter what you do once it starts
thats what happened to my younger brother last week
that awful disease took him
it bothers me a lot because he died and it really bothers me
a lot that the alzheimers disease took him away from us
when he was so young
i thought this was an old persons disease
he was in the prime of his life when it started 7 years ago
im sure that he noticed things a long time before others
began to notice
ive talked and communicated with others who are diagnosed with
the disease real early and yes they notice things are changing
a long time before others notice
its the cruelty of this disease when you know
of course since our mother died from the disease he im sure
as we all do worried that he was next and he was
this also bothers me a lot
his death and seeing what his wife and kids and grandkids had
to go through during this period of time
i also know that if my diagnosis is correct that my path
will be the same as his
im glad that i know though that this is a possibility so i can plan
and hopefully my family can be as good as his family was throughout
this whole ordeal
his wife should be given the caregiver of the year award by someone
i know we all give her our vote
as she suffered through this ordeal
the financial and emotional devastation that it caused
she was there
he always knew that she was there
she was there to the end
he died in the hospice house surrounded by his wife
his girls and his grandkids his friends and family
may he rest in peace and may his family rest now in peace
his visitation the night before had a 2 1/2 hour line waiting to see
the family
a tribute to how well liked he was
this silent guy with the blue eyes and that smile that so many
people commented on
the salute by the fire department
the sounding of the final bells
the tribute of the sheriffs department
the presentation to his wife of the flag
the excellent funeral service by his minister who knew him
as he told stories about my brother
the songs sung by a young man
who at one point had to pause as he teared up
a building packed to capacity to honor him
my younger brother
yes may he rest in peace
ive shed my tears many times this last week
but ive smiled a lot
like he use to
as i remember the things we use to do together when we
were young
some mischievous some not
well most were probably mischievous
ill remember your last visit to our house when we had a lot
of time together
the alzheimers had its hold on you then
you know as the words wouldnt come out right
and as you said you couldnt remember things
then our family reunion last month
when your wife that courageous dedicated wife brought you
there in that wheelchair bed
you were in there somewhere
we were and all are glad that she made the effort to have you there
surrounded by all the noise and happiness
somewhere inside i think you knew you were there and enjoyed it
i cherish the visits i had with you that weekend
you didnt talk back but i talked to you anyway
i think you knew i was there
im glad now that you are at peace
and your family
yes the mirror in which i look at is gone
rip
we will all miss you
a time on november 2 when all his family and friends will gather again
to honor him
and to give support to the fight against this terrible disease that
took him so young
__________
this monday august 9, 2021 at 1200 pst i will be interviewed online by the website being patient a well known alzheimers website
my interview will be a zoom interview
__________
this monday august 9, 2021 at 1200 pst i will be interviewed online by the website being patient a well known alzheimers website
my interview will be a zoom interview
before i start that interview i will pause a silent moment to memorialize my younger brother who fought alzheimers for 7 years
like all who get the diagnosis the disease wins in the end
it won against him it won against my mother and it will win against me
here is the link to my interview to watch it live
being patient reserve link for my interview
when you sign up for this rsvp interview you will be sent a link to the interview and there is also a link to youtube to watch it later at your leisure
you can also submit questions during the interview
fyi i have been signed up for the being patient newsletter for several years and regularly listen to their interviews
it is a great resource for those of you now in the alzheimers world
keep those of us with this diagnosis and their caregivers and their family in your hearts and minds
the organicgreen doctor
Not many days go by that he isn't brought to mind! I thought of him today and how Chance used to stay with him a lot! They were two peas in a pod for sure!
ReplyDeletei too think of him almost everyday. togd
ReplyDelete