Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Big news day

I've received so many emails and calls today.

As many of you know, I am a big women's college basketball fan. We've lived in Athens for 30 years and have followed the UGA Lady Bulldogs since moving here. Our head coach, Andy Landers, also starting coaching the team at the same time, so I like to consider Andy a friend of mine.

When I was first diagnosed with early on set Alzheimer's, I sent an email out to all my friends. Within a matter of hours of sending that email out, Andy called and said he was coming to pick me up for lunch, to hear all about it and wanted to know what he could do to help. Those are the kinds of friends that we all need.

So, I thought of that today, when I heard the news that Pat Summitt, head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's at the age of 59. Coach Summitt has been a big adversary of ours, but she is also to be admired for what she has done with her teams over the years. She made a video statement on the Lady Vols site today talking about the diagnosis and being very upfront about it. She sensed some relief in knowing what she had and now know what she is facing. I felt the same way -- I wanted to know what my problem was and then to deal with it. Coach Summitt has a lot of support, from her family, her fans and her UT family. She plans to continue coaching and I'm sure she will try to live as normal of a life as she can. I know she has great assistance and will get the support she needs from them and the University. I hope, that she, like myself, will have many more productive years ahead of her. She's tough, she's strong and she will make the best of her life.

I have had lots of people reach out to me today -- wanting to know if I heard about Coach Summitt and what I thought. No one wishes this on anyone, but I wish her the best.

Also, tonight, Glen Campbell was interviewed for the ABC News -- his full interview will be played tonight on Nightline. Mr. Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is speaking out about it for the first time.

In other news, people inquired as to how Alan did with the earthquake in DC. He said that his building which is right across from the Capitol was evacuated and then they were sent home. He walked home as the traffic was bad because everyone was trying to get home, and the metro system had slowed down. I told him he should have had a big one like this when he was living in California not Washington DC. Tonight he and Jen went down to take a look at the new Martin Luther King memorial. He said it was pretty impressive. Comedian Dick Gregory was there tonight -- he wasn't sure who he was as he is a little old for Alan to know him. But lots of people were taking his picture and he called to see if I knew who he was. I guess moms are good for something.


1 comment:

Inge said...

You know what I like most about you? You're still in the middle of LIFE, and so concerned about others! Greetings, Inge