Krista - The Purple Ribbon

Alzheimers Graphics


I'm not going to dazzle you with facts and figures because you can google these yourself. What I will explain is how very personal this cause is to me.

My grandfather was my hero growing up. He was intelligent, handsome, charming, and a good person. He is a Korean War vet, retired from the US Air Force. He worked out at the Cape on the space shuttle program before retiring. And he doted on me. We fought of course, as family does, mostly about politics and religion but we were always up for a healthy debate. And when I became more politically conservative, my grandfather was so excited you would have thought I was running for president myself. He could discuss anything at all - throw a topic out there and we could talk for hours. My grandmother would beg us to stop talking sometimes so she could get some peace and quiet!

Right around the time I became pregnant with my son, he started slipping. He couldn't quite remember things the way he used to. He would stutter and get confused about who was around him, or what year it was. My grandmother was convinced St John's Wort for his memory would make it all better, but of course it did not.

After my son was born, my grandfather held him and told me he was very sad. When I asked why, he said "Because I'll never get to see him grow up".

My heart gets broken on a daily basis when I see the stranger that has taken over my grandfather. He no longer speaks clearly. He hasn't said my name since my son was very little. Although, one day a little over a month ago he looked at me and said "I love you" for the first time in years. But that was a fleeting moment, since it has yet to be repeated. He sits in a chair and sleeps most of the day. He can no longer feed himself, bathe himself, or get dressed. This wonderful and amazing man wears diapers so that he doesn't make messes because he no longer has the ability to tell us when he needs to go.

I miss him so much.

I pray that one day there is an effective treatment or cure for this disease. I never want anyone to feel this way seeing your loved ones become a person who has no clue who you are, when once upon a time, this person thought you hung the moon and stars.