Alzheimer's Marches On....Sad

On Thursday we got the news that my fun loving uncle passed away and walked the last mile of Alzheimer's Disease. My aunt was an unfailing caregiver. She brought my uncle to family gatherings up until a month ago, when he took a bad turn. My uncle and aunt were so great to us growing up. They vacationed with my family every summer in East Durham, NY (the Irish Alps) . My grandmother lived with them so we spent all of our holidays at their house.

I went to another aunt's 80th birthday this fall, and my uncle was at the party. At the beginning of the party I went to greet him and I saw total recognition in his face (he didn't recognize me in our previous few meetings). He called me "kid" and asked me how I was doing. I told him that I was great. Right before I pulled away he grabbed my jacket and in a strange moment he told me that they were going to send him away soon. I was taken back, but I replied, " Oh-no, Uncle _____, we are going to keep you around for a while." and I tried to keep the moment light. That was the last time I saw him and I am grateful that we had our last moment of recognition. He was an ever-presence in my childhood and I know my parents and my whole extended family will miss him. My deepest condolences to his son and his wife, my aunt and his grandchildren.

Alzheimer's takes our loved ones in pieces. I have never met anyone whose life was not touched by this disease. My thoughts and prayers are for those who continue to live with an Alzheimer's person and have to live minute to minute. I hope that they get a minute of peace in their day, an extra grain of patience and a little bit of rest.