The Stealer. Our Journey with Early On-Set Alzheimer's Disease.
by Rosanna Glennon

Our journey with Early On-Set Alzheimers started the very moment my husband retired from March Air Force Base, 1/2005. Zero enjoyment from retirement- zero everything. He was 58 I was 53. He has gone through each and every symptom of this dreadful stealing disease.

He was a man that could do anything- a plumbing contractor, builder, you name it, now he cannot even hold a toothbrush, or sit in a chair without extreme help- he is my 63 year old child. People were always calling on my husband to work for them. I had to sell our home, his truck, Alzheimers steals everything from you-piece by piece, material, emotionally and physically.

Being a Caregiver for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s disease
by James W. Rhoads

Only one who has "been there and done that" can even begin to appreciate all of the physical and mental problems involved with being a full time caregiver to an Alzheimer’s patient, especially for one that you love so deeply.

LESSONS ALZHEIMER’S TAUGHT ME
by Lucie Arbuthnot

“I’m extra!”
My mother’s smile was radiant as she greeted me at the door on my regular Friday morning visit. She was by then almost a decade into her journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
Guessing that her happy expression was a substitute for words she could no longer retrieve, I responded with equal enthusiasm, “Yes, you are extra!”
But her waving arms and frown clearly told me I had misunderstood.
“I’m extraordinary…” she started again with undampened enthusiasm.
“You bet you’re extraordinary!” I interrupted, delighted at this rare polysyllabic pronouncement.
Again she waved off my response.
“I’m extra-ordinari-ly glad to see you,” she finally said, her Herculean task accomplished.
A red carpet and brass band could not have made me feel more welcome.

During the 25 years I was a college professor, my job was to teach. Now that my mother had Alzheimer's disease, it was my turn to learn.

Losing my father a piece at a time.
submitted by David Jordan

My father is Haven T Jordan, formerly of Yarmouth, Maine. He was born and raised in Yarmouth and attended North Yarmouth Academy. He was the captain of the basketball team, the student council president, and held the state record in the high jump for many years. He joined the US Air Force after high school and was stationed in Europe.. He was a military policeman and after getting out of the service he became a police officer in both his home town of Yarmouth and also in Portland for a while. In July of 1959 while off duty he swam to the bottom of Range pond, retrieved a drowning boy from the bottom and saved his life. He worked hard all his life in a variety of jobs and with my mom raised four boys and my sister. He was a wonderful father who would routinely go without to make sure we had everything we needed. I aspire to be half the father he was. I know I never will.