Alzheimer's Day at the Georgia State Capitol

About 300 advocates emerged on Atlanta yesterday to talk to our legislators about issues dealing with Alzheimer's. It was a great day. We were all wearing purple t-shirts that said "voice" across the front. There was a press conference with the Governor which drew some press to the event. The Governor's mother-in-law was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's so this is also a personal thing for him.

We had people come in buses from all over the state. Ralph and I went and there were a few other people from around our area there including a new friend I have made, Bill Dotson. I was deeply touched that my daughter-in-law's father, Charles Lee also showed up to be with us. I didn't know he was coming and it really meant a lot to me that he would take time out of his day to join us.

Most of the legislators we met with were receptive to what we had to say but with the budget the way it is in our state (and probably almost every other state) we will have to see what happens. One thing I have been working towards is an Alzheimer's Task Force that would look at issues such as driving assessments, emergency placement and better long term health care. This is something that will not take a lot of money but just requires some time and effort on some of our legislators part.

Thanks to Kathy Simpson and Ginny Helms of the Georgia Alzheimer's Assn. for putting this together. I look forward to next year's event.

Pick Up Sticks

Now that the snow has passed and it is 70 plus degrees outside today, it is time to go out and pick up all the limbs and branches that fell off our trees during the snow/ice storm. It did a lot of damage in Athens and we will be picking up debris for awhile.

Monday is our Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Atlanta. There will be a press conference with the Governor that I will be speaking at and hopefully we can get some people's attention on Monday.

Last week, when our power was out, I had a lady call me from Missouri. She had seen an article in a magazine about me and my struggles with Alzheimer's and she was desperate to talk to someone. Her husband, 64, has been showing signs of Alzheimer's (loss of short term memory, confusion, getting lost) and she needed to talk. She had been letting her husband do all the financial things around the house and as a result the house is in foreclosure and there are some issues she is having to deal with because these things were not tended to. One of her first questions to me was "do you have problems with math?" That seems to be a universal problem with all of us -- and I think she was relieved to know that but at the same time realized how much of a mess she was in. She couldn't talk long because she didn't want her husband hearing her talking to me. Since the power was out I couldn't look up the 800 Alzheimer's number but I told her how to get it and I hope she will call. She asked if she could call me again and of course I said yes. I hope she can find some help somewhere. At least she realizes that there is a problem there.

Snow photos

The newspaper said we got 6.5 inches of snow. The most Athens has ever had was 8 inches and that was in 1983. We remember that one too but this snow was so wet and heavy that it did a lot more damage. In the last photo I decided to take my black cat out to play in the snow with me. She didn't like it much! We didn't make the snow creatures -- someone else on our block did.

I was starting to get a little panicky after about 24 hours without power. Not from being without power but just not having things be normal.

Over the weekend, I was in Macon for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction. Our UGA women's basketball coach was being inducted. While there I met with the Macon Alzheimer's Development Director and got to meet a lovely couple they serve. Cheryl and Norman met us for breakfast. Their daughter has been active with their association as well since her father was first diagnosed. They were a lovely couple and I hope I get to see them again next week at our state Advocacy Day in Atlanta.

Snow

Well, we got hit with some pretty big snow this past weekend. It was beautiful and I'm going to post some photos later -- I know you Northerners will be used to it. (I am a transplanted one you know) -- but with it brought massive power outages. We lost our power on Sunday night about 5 p.m. and got it back 31 hours later! So, I'm just catching up to things on the internet. We were lucky that we have a gas stove and at least we could heat water and cook some things. We took hot water to our neighbors so they could at least have soup and coffee.

By Friday it is suppose to be 70 degrees here. Go figure. More soon.

Off Again

I'm heading to Macon Georgia this weekend. The UGA Women's basketball coach is getting inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and I am going with some other booster club members. I'm trying to get a cold so I hope that doesn't make the trip awful.

My brother is still in the hospital. It seems he takes one step forward and two steps back. We found out this week there are some more things that have attacked his body if you will. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Next week we have training for Alzheimer's Advocacy Day. March 9th is Alzheimer's Day at the state capitol here in Georgia. If you live in Georgia I would encourage you to join us. We are hoping we will have 500 people carry our message to legislators. If you need more information go to www.alz.org/georgia.

I haven't been as sharp this week. I'm not sure if it is because of the cold, not being on my schedule, being tired or not taking my meds at the right time (probably the latter) but hopefully I can get straightened out this week.

Home Again

I'm home from Illinois. My brother is holding his own, but has a very very long way to go. I will be going back up there the first part of April and hopefully, things will be looking up. Thanks to all who called and emailed. I'll be writing more this week.

In Illinois

I'm in Illinois this week visiting my sick brother. I didn't think I was going to have to come but it was time. I haven't seen him in nine months so you can imagine he didn't look real good to me. He is having surgery again today. He has a long way to go. On top of his diabetes and all the trouble he has had with that he also has colon cancer. They removed a tumor last week the size of his head. I just can't imagine. It will be several months before he can start his chemo as there are quite a few other things wrong and they have to take care of those first. It's way too long and complicated to go into but suffice it to say he has a long way to go. My plan is to return to Georgia on Sunday. Please keep him in your prayers.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day weekend. My son and husband both surprised me with gifts and believe me -- I was surprised......not by my son's gift but by my husband's. I don't think he has ever given me a gift for Valentine's Day -- needless to say he is not a gift giver! So, that was extra special.

Each week Google sends me a list of news articles that have been published during the week. Last week an article caught my eye about Alzheimer's drugs. The article was from the Orlando Sentinel. The gist of the article was why do the drug companies paint such a rosy picture of Alzheimer's when there is no hope. When I looked at the bottom of the article I saw where the article had been written by a writer in Stone Mountain Georgia -- not too far from where I live. His email address was attached so I emailed him. I had to differ with his opinion in the area that the Alzheimer's drugs on the market today can help some people -- especially in the early stages. If it weren't for drugs I wouldn't be writing this blog today. Yes, the drugs interact with people differently and although they won't help forever, it does give you a chance to lead a somewhat productive life in the beginning. I don't think the advertisements are misleading -- they don't say there is a cure -- they say there is help. The writer and I have a few back and forth exchanges. When I received my list from Google this week, there was another article by the writer this time about the feedback he had received from his article including some of my comments. There's always two sides (if not more) to a story.

Calls and emails

Thanks to all who have called or email asking about my brother. His surgery went o.k. but he has a ways to go. At least he is getting the care he needs. I was heading to Illinois, but am going to wait a bit after talking with family members. Thanks again and please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

New Friends

Last week my husband and I had the opportunity to meet a gentleman in our area that has early on set Alzheimer's and his lovely wife. We met for coffee and it was nice to get to know them. Bill and I shared "our moments" and his wife and my husband shared "their frustrations" --that probably isn't the right word for it but close enough. I was so relieved to hear Bill say that when he was having his "moments" they felt like out of body experiences. He is so right --that is the way I have been describing things since I was diagnosed. It was nice to hear someone else say that.

This weekend is Valentine's Day. Over the last few days I have heard several people complain about the lame presents their husbands give them for Valentine's Day. I want to shout at them -- "At least you get something and someone is thinking about you!"

I have written here on occasion about my brother. He is in very poor health and has not done anything about it. I worry all the time about him because over the years he could have done something about his condition -- but he hasn't. In the last week his health has deteriorated and we have all been concerned. Last night, he finally agreed to go to a hospital and at least will we get a take on what is going on with him. The prognosis is probably not good. I only write about this because if you love your family -- take care of yourself. I always say how guilty I feel about having Alzheimer's because I didn't do anything to get this disease and it is so hard on my family. When you have a health issue that is treatable -- please do something about it --not only for you but for your family. They care about you and that says a lot. Even if you don't care about yourself they do -- so don't be selfish and get help when you need it.

OK -- I'm off my soap box now. My husband turns 65 tomorrow. We are going to celebrate.