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I am now posting at https://creatingmemories.home.blog/. Please update your bookmarks - I hope you'll continue to follow me at my new site!

This was taken on a recent trip to Illinois to visit my family.  Our grandson Ian and his Mom and Dad (Alan and Jen) went with us.  Some of my family members had not met Ian yet, so it was nice that we finally made that happen.  Family vacations are rare -- we also got to visit with some long time friends.  My brother retired the day before we arrived so we had a special celebration for him.  He has gotten himself involved in some Alzheimer's research in which he has had to undergo a lot of tests.  He hasn't show any signs of Alzheimer's but they want to watch him over a period of time.  I really appreciate that he has done this and I know that in the long run all research is good for the cause.

Our Walk to End Alzheimer's is coming up in October and I have been working to get all m donations in.  I am hoping that my team can raise $20,000.  Last year we ended up with $17,000+ donated.  If you would like to donate you can click here and it will take you to our site.... Athens Walk to End Alzheimer's.  I would certainly appreciate anything you could donate. 

New Alzheimer's Research News

Allison Gatlin, a Tech reporter with Investor's Business Daily and Investors.com published a story today about some Alzheimer's Research that is making some news. It's an interesting article and although I am quoted in here, it is not the reason for me to post this story -- it's promising. Click here to view the article   Experts see Hope
I appreciate Allison's work on this.

I'm gearing up for our Walk to End Alzheimer's.  Donations are always encouraged.  Our team raised closed to $17,000 last year and I am hoping we can make the $20,000 mark.  If you would like to help us you can click here:Team Athens

I'm back

Can you believe that I am posting within a month of my last post?  I can't.  I have tried to get on several times but the thoughts just weren't coming together.  In the past week three more people I know have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.  It is just everywhere.  I am glad they are getting diagnosed and the help they need, but I wish it wasn't happening so frequently.  Next month is Brain Awareness month so you will probably be seeing more things about Brain diseases in the news.

I decided to go off one of my medicines.  It was to help me with my concentration.  It was working, but it was a hassle to get and the stress of getting it was too much for me to take anymore so I decided to go off of it.  Now I find myself being more exhausted because it takes so much more of my mind to focus and concentrate.  One trade off for another I guess.

Healthline.com has added my blog to their list of "Best Alzheimer's Blog for 2018". They sent a badge for me to insert into this blog, but I haven't been able to make it work.  I'll keep trying.

On another note, my dear friend, Lisa Genova, who wrote Still Alice, has a new book out about ALS.  The book is "With Every Note Played". I urge you to read it -- you won't be sorry. 

Another Post

Imagine that -- another post and it hasn't been three or four months -- or longer!  I have had quite a few doctor's appointments this week -- mostly pertaining to my cancer.  Everything is good, just follow ups. I am also seeing my neurologist tomorrow.  My appointments there are a little depressing because there isn't anything he can do for me other than refill my prescriptions.  So, we keep moving on -- maybe not the way we want to go but the way we are destined to go.

Other friends are dealing with life threatening diseases as well and that can be a real downer.  We all have our battles to fight -- some being harder to win than others.  One way or another we all get through it -- but family, friends and faith play a major role in that.  I am thankful for all three.

Easter Sunday/April Fools

It isn't a joke -- one year ago today I had that fateful mammogram that showed my stage 2 cancer. It has been a long year -- one I hope to not repeat.  I go this week for my six month mammogram from surgery.  We are hoping all looks good.  I have seen more doctors, labs, hospitals than I ever wanted to.  I know lots of people coping with much worse than I went through and I salute them.  Praying for everyone's recovery and better days.

On another front, the new 2018 Facts and Figures about Alzheimer's Disease is out.  You can view them here : https://www.alz.org/georgia/.  Our Walk To End Alzheimer's is in October so I will be reaching out to many to help us fight the cause.

I am getting more time to visit with my little grandson.  He is 16 months old already -- and has the best giggle in the world!

A New Year -- A Better Year?

Yes, that's me now -- grey hair and all! I've been coloring my hair for over 30 years and I told my husband that after the cancer, that however my hair came back it was going to stay that way.  So now it is grey and curly.  This photo is about a month old and it has grown longer, but this is the new me. Take it or leave it.

My grandson Ian is now 13 months old and always brings a smile to my face.  For the love of children.  He is a pretty huggable guy but he stays "busy" as I like to say.

I am hoping that 2018 will be a healthier new year for me.  I certainly wasn't expecting the cancer diagnosis last year and I am hoping there are no surprises for me this year.

I'm heading off to New Orleans this week to an Alzheimer's Association Leadership Summit. Hope to learn some new things and be able to post when I return.

Thanks for bearing with me last year......here is to a healthier, happier 2018!

Not Back To "Normal"

Yes, it has been many long months since I have added anything to this blog.  The last few chemo treatments I had this summer did a number on me.  I was sailing along pretty well and then a big old truck seemed to come smashing into me.  After my chemo finally ended, I went in for surgery. Luckily, the chemo had done its job (it should have for what I went through!) and the tumor was pretty insignificant at the time of surgery.  A few weeks later I started radiation treatments.  On November 13th I will be finished with everything.......or that is the plan anyway.  I went for my original mammogram on April 1 (no joke) and 7 months later -- I am on the verge of finishing treatment.  Of course, follow up exams will be made and I will continue to meet with my oncologist but hopefully all the nasty stuff is behind me. This is definitely not how I wanted my year to go.

Through all this my Alzheimer's has "flared up" with my chemo brain and my Alzheimer's brain combined I had some days where it was just easier to stay in bed -- and that I did.  But, the farther and farther away I get from my original chemo treatments the better that is.  And, we just finished our Walk To End Alzheimer's last week and our team raised over $15,000. I am so proud of everyone and so very thankful for all of my friends and family for getting me through all my health battles this year. I can never thank them enough.

And of course, there is this guy -- turning 11 months old. Every time I was feeling really down or really sick I got a little dose of Ian and I started smiling. I know that is what grandchildren are all about.

Back to the Chemo Chair

Monday, I head back to the chemo chair.  At least I know what to expect now!

But, my doctor was kind enough to delay my next treatment one week so I could visit family last week. My husband, brother and I went to the US Open Golf tournament for one day at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.  It is an amazing course -- one I would never want to play.  We were also able to visit with some cousins that live in Wisconsin that I have not seen in about 8 or 9 years.  I needed that visit.

Letters

A few months ago I came across an old friend on Facebook and re-connected.  We had just lost track of each other and it was so nice to hear from her again.  One of the first questions she asked me was "Did your son ever open up his letters you wrote him on his birthdays". I had forgotten that I shared that with her.  If you have followed my blog you know that I the day my son was born, I wrote him a letter.  I put it in the safety deposit box and every year after that I wrote a letter on his birthday and put it in the safety deposit box.  I think at some point he knew what I was doing but we didn't talk about it.  I really enjoyed writing that letter and added photos and different things. I would collect thoughts and stories all year and save them for that day I wanted to write "the letter". As the years went by I wasn't sure when I wanted to give them to him......on his 18th birthday, 21st birthday, graduation.....????? When I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's these letters took on a different meaning.  I wanted to share everything with him before I forgot everything.  Some years the letters were very hard to write.

I finally decided that the night before Alan got married I would give him the letters. I purchased a brown leather case. We shared time that night and it was really hard for me to give him these letters.  And, he didn't want to take them from me.  We shared a few tears and I finally convinced him that it was the right time.  I think maybe he thought I would never write him another letter, or that I had given up on life or something.  My only condition to him was that -- he could read them when he wanted but that when he did read them I wanted to know that he had.  That was almost nine years ago.

On Mother's Day this year, Alan gave me a letter.  The letter said he had read my letters the week before.  I didn't ask why now but I would suspect that my cancer scare brought him to it -- not knowing what my long term prognosis is going to be.  That was a hard day. 

So, Jan......the answer to your question is "Yes, Alan has read his letters."