Alzheimer's Disease is something I fear. I think it's a disease everyone is terrified of -- to not know who you are, where you are, or who's around you. I don't have Alzheimer's, but when I forget what I'm talking about, when I forget the names of things right in front of me, when I struggle to think of the right words ... even though I know it's because of neurological Lyme disease and can sometimes be reversed, it still scares me. It's not as simple as getting older; there's a definite difference between who I was three years ago and who I am now. Adding to the fear is I also know that people with neurological Lyme have a greater chance of getting Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, MS, and similar diseases.
The brain is an amazing thing. It's also a mysterious thing.
This year Julianne Moore won an Oscar for playing a woman with early-onset Alzheimer's in the movie "Still Alice". I read the book when it first came out, and I have to admit to crying while reading it.
In 2014, Glen Campbell's documentary "Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me" was released. His last song, written for the documentary, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", was sung last night at the Oscars by Tim McGraw. It's a poignant, gut-wrenching song about perhaps the one good thing about Alzheimers - if you don't know who people are, you can't miss them when they're gone.
As I write that, I hope you understand I'm not trying to gloss over the agony of Alzheimers to the person afflicted with it and the family watching this tragedy unfold. I've listened to the song several times, read the lyrics, and this is the part that hits me the hardest:
You're the last person I will love
You're the last face I will recall
And best of all, I'm not gonna miss you
Not gonna miss you
You're the last face I will recall
And best of all, I'm not gonna miss you
Not gonna miss you
Then I take a deep breath and I write. I keep on. I can't quit. I may want to, heaven knows. I hate the rollercoaster life my family has to deal with; I hate being a burden (even when they say I'm not); I hate losing time.
But I love too many people. And I love my life to much. I don't know what will happen but that's part of the thrill, and part of the fear, too. But I've been given this life and I'm going to see it through to the end.
I respect people like Glen Campbell and Alice Genova. I respect how they're brought attention to Alzheimer's and to the people whose names we don't know and the people who care for them.
If you are interested in learning more, are caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease, or would like to make a difference, please take a look at http://www.alz.org/ . It's not just an "old person's disease"; it can affect people in their 40's and 50's. If you're interested in joining Heather and my Art of Awareness Blog Hop, the color for Alzheimer's Disease awareness is purple. You can learn more about the hop here and here.
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Your bead can include any word or name, and a customized awareness ribbon stamped on the back. |
I hope I've said what I meant to say (today isn't a "good brain" day, and it's one of the reasons why I don't blog nearly as often). I hope it's understood that the more people know, the more compassion can be shown, and even more importantly, a cure can be found. It's out there.
Someone just has to find it.
Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack. Visit her shops by clicking on the right side bar of this blog (please and thank you!). She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party® and author of the book "Bead Soup" via Kalmbach Publishing.