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Alzheimer’s Disease is More than a Memory Issue

Everyone has heard of Alzheimer’s disease and most of us have labeled someone with it due to their forgetfulness. After seeing my grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease I know now that it isn’t just a disease that effects the memory.

The way my grandmother entered my life was just the beginning of a very long list of her selfless and thoughtful acts. She met my grandfather shortly after his wife and mother of his kids, left him and their 4 young children for good, never to be heard from again. His youngest child was 2 years old at the time and eventually became my father.  She married my grandfather and raised his children as if they were her own and even stayed with them through troubled times, which from what I hear were abundant in their household.

Alzheimer's Disease

One story of that time that speaks to her character is that she has always been an animal lover and could not bare to see an animal harmed in anyway but when money was tight she took a job at a chicken and poultry distributor. She has told me some of the terrible things she witnessed while employed there and when I asked how she could put herself through that, she simply stated her family needed the money and it was a job.

When her children were all grown up, my grandfather and her divorced. She moved in with one of hers sons and helped him raise his family. She would often visit us and stay for a couple of weeks at a time.

Every time she would come visit, she would cook the best meals I have ever tasted and cleaned our house as if the president was coming over.

She would always bring gifts for all of us kids and order a pizza the night she arrived. She was on a fixed income at that time in her 60’s but always insisted on paying her own way and offering to pay for others. She would babysit us kids while my parents went out and whenever their friends would stop by while she was there, they all called her Ma.

She is a little Italian woman with lots of spunk and somehow carries around a larger than normal heart inside that tiny little body.

Alzheimer's Disease

Even at 60 she could have a comeback for anyone that dared to take her on in a battle of the wits. She could curse you out in Italian or English and do it with class. She always had her hair done perfectly and would wear makeup before heading out. She wore beautiful high heeled shoes into her 80’s and could sing Frank Sinatra’s music like nobody’s business.

She never missed a birthday or holiday, crocheted a baby blanket for every new child, made a bride doll for every new bride, and a toilet paper holder for every new home. She has been an amazing example throughout my life of what an angel on Earth would look like and a perfect role model of a true lady.

I adore this woman, I wish I had half the heart she does.

Fast forward to 2010, she came to live with my family in Illinois. Although we had talked on the phone at least every Monday for the past 10 years, I didn’t know how much her health had deteriorated. She was having mobility issues, vision loss, hearing loss, digestive problems, and memory loss among other things. I took her to a doctor who prescribed a medicine for memory loss. After taking it for several weeks, she was having so many side effects the doctor took her off the medicine, it actually seemed to be making her memory worse. We decided to seek a second opinion and the next doctor didn’t offer any solution to the memory problems but did say she believed my grandmother had Alzheimer’s.

There is no cure, way to prevent it or way to slow down it’s progression, even though it is one of the top ten causes of death in this country!

Alzheimer’s Disease afflicts more than 5.2 million Americans. It’s a devastating ailment that wipes out memories, destroys loving relationships among families, and finally robs people of the basic ability to take care of themselves and maintain personal dignity.

Alzheimer's Disease

As time went on my grandmothers condition got  much worse and she needed around the clock care. My father decided to move her into his home because it was obvious that the stresses of taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease while raising a child was taking it’s toll on me.

I felt extremely guilty for not being there for the woman who was always there for me my entire life when she needed help.

I knew I was in over my head taking care of my daughter and my grandmother who needed around the clock care. So when my dad offered to take her in, I felt a weight had been lifted off of me, I was relieved.

He moved her to Indiana, about a 4 hour drive from where we lived, along with her 2 birds Mario and Luigi. At his home she had her own bedroom which was already an improvement because at my home she was staying in my living room with hardly anywhere to put her things.

Even on the phone I could tell her condition was getting worse but I always was hopeful and would continue to tell her funny stories to keep her spirits up and pretend to not notice her inability to express what was on her mind. It had to be frustrating to her, trying to tell me a story and mid way through her mind just going absolutely blank. I felt terrible for her but some days were better than others and I let myself believe she was just tired or having a bad day.

The calls were less and less and I just talked to my dad about her condition instead of subjecting her to a phone call.

As my grandmother’s health steadily worsened she became a danger to herself. My dad would leave work every few hours to come home and check on her then return to work.  He would come home to find small fires in the kitchen when she was trying to make a pot of coffee or find her fallen down in the back yard not knowing how long she had been there. She was unable to perform even the most basic tasks for herself at this point.  It was obvious she needed professional care that he could not provide her and he decided to admit her to a nursing home.

Obviously the best thing he could have done for her but I am sure it was the hardest decision he has ever had to make.

He would go to visit her and when we would talk he would fill me in on how life was like for her. Then this past Thanksgiving weekend, my family had the opportunity to take a 4 day weekend and drive out to my dad’s, which from where we live now, is about a 6 hour drive. Other family from Tennessee and Illinois also made the trip, so we all went to go see grandma at the nursing home together. My dad had tried to tell me many times before the trip and right before going into the nursing home that this isn’t the grandma I remember and tried to prepare me because he didn’t think she would recognize me.

Alzheimer's Disease

My husband, my daughter, and myself all felt we had such a special relationship with grandma that she would recognize us but even if she didn’t, we were alright with that. We all filed into a room with a conference table and chairs. Everyone took a seat and waited while a nurse went into the Alzheimer’s Disease unit to get grandma. After what seemed like only a minute, grandma arrived, in a wheelchair. She looked like the same grandma except her hair was long, she always wore her hair very short and she was in a wheelchair.

Each of us leaned over to give her a hug and my dad talked to her as I assumed he normally does when visiting her. She began to talk back and it broke my heart, she couldn’t even form a sentence. She stuttered and made no sense when responding. I couldn’t hold back the tears while looking at her and seeing nothing in her eyes anymore.

She didn’t know who I was, she didn’t know who any of us were.

We would try to jog her memory,  but it didn’t work. She looked at my daughter and said “She’s so pretty” and a few times would make out a word here and there, mostly curse words but none of it made sense. She was sitting right next to me but she was miles and miles away. I couldn’t keep it together long enough to take a picture, I was crying so hard. To see this woman I have looked up to my entire life, someone who has done so much for everyone and has received so little in return, ending her life this way ripped my heart out.

This post was originally written in December of 2014. My grandma Ellen has since passed away on September 24,2016, I was able to visit her right before she passed, one last time to say goodbye. Although I feel a void in my life without her, I feel my grieving had already started back in December of 2014 when it had become obvious to me that Alzheimer’s Disease had taken her away from me already. 

Since her birthday February 4th has just passed I decided to update this post. I am trying to help spread the word about what Alzheimer’s Disease really is and someday with enough research I hope there is a cure so nobody else has to see their loved ones suffer this way.

Has your family been impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease? Please share your story by commenting below.

About Thirty Something Super Mom

Melissa Dixon Thirty Something Super Mom
Thirty Something Super Mom | Website

My journey started after a Crohn's disease diagnosis, inspiring a commitment to well-being. This site shares my distinctive approach to healthy living with my collection of nutritious recipes that boast authentic flavors, mimicking the indulgence of traditional dishes. I love sharing guilt free recipes for low carb, keto, gluten-free, paleo, and the specific carbohydrate diet. I also share tips on natural living, including homemade cleaners and cleaning hacks. I also share my experience as a veterinary technician and pet groomer, to integrate pet health tips, homemade dog food recipes, and grooming insights to ensure your pets thrive.

Kristie

Tuesday 28th of February 2017

My grandma has dementia and it is horrible. She doesn't recognize me and I was her favorite. It's so hard. I miss her. She is still alive but I miss her so much. There is no conversation and no memory recall at all. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy February!

Marielle Altenor

Friday 17th of February 2017

So heartbroken for you. I can't imagine what you went through. I haven't experienced it personally but I have a good friend that his dad passed away a couple of years ago due to this. It was hard reading his post and taking to him and seeing the pain he went through as he watched his dad slipped away slowly.

Kendall Rayburn

Thursday 16th of February 2017

I've had a few people that were close to me get this disease, it is just so sad. I hope they're on the way to figuring out a cure!

Shannon Gurnee

Thursday 16th of February 2017

I hate Alzheimer's Disease. My grandpa had it and it scares me that it's hereditary. It's such a sad thing for anyone to go through.

Dogvills

Thursday 16th of February 2017

Alzheimer's is a very difficult disease to deal with. My father in law suffered from this, but we didn't see the worst of it because he passed because of a heart failure.