Tag: Alzheimer’s Support

Why I Advocate for Alzheimer’s

One of the main reasons I Advocate for Alzheimer’s is because of the 4 people in my life (my Grandfather, my wife’s Grandmother, my Mother and Father) who suffered and died from Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Why did they have to suffer and die?

According to the facts from ww.alz.org

  • It’s the only cause of death in the Top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed
  • 1 in 3 die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
  • THIS IS A BIGGIE . . . ONLY 45% OF PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’s DISEASE, OR THEIR CAREGIVERS, REPORT BEING TOLD OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS.  REALLY???  REALLY??????
  • MORE THAN 90% OF PEOPLE WITH THE FOUR MOST COMMON TYPES OF CANCER HAVE BEEN TOLD OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS.
  • In 2015, Alzheimer’s and other Dementia’s will cost the nation $226 BILLION.
  • By 2050, these costs could rise as high as $1.1 TRILLION

Not being told that you have a disease that will kill you is unacceptable. In a CNN cover story, it was reported that, “Doctors are sidestepping this tough conversation. But why? That’s been studied too, and the reasons doctors give range from diagnostic uncertainty and fear of causing emotional distress to time constraints, lack of support, and stigma.”

I think back to when I was sitting in my Neurologist’s office and he was going on and on about this and that and I could tell he was beating around the bush, so me being me, I stopped him and asked, “DO I HAVE ALZHEIMER’S?” He paused and quietly said “YES!” I know it was uncomfortable for him to tell me but that’s why he’s a Doctor. He’s going to have t tell his patients unpleasant things every now and then. If you can’t do that, then take off the white coat, turn in your stethoscope and go do something else.

Another reason why people with Alzheimer’s disease suffer and die is because Alzheimer’s disease is severely underfunded. I wanted to know why so I did some research. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg but here are some of my findings. (each link is clickable if you want to read)

– Seth Rogen Gets Serious To Fight ‘Ridiculously Underfunded’ Alzheimer’s Disease
– There Is No Cure And Little Money To Solve Alzheimer’s Disease
– Alzheimer’s Funding Lags Behind Other Diseases
– Dementia research underfunded, former Health Minister claims
– Alzheimer’s Is Expensive, Deadly and Growing. So Where’s the Research Money?
– Alzheimer’s Deaths Vastly Under-Reported, Study Says

In the last article, which was published in Newsweek, it states, “Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease. Over 5 million people in the U.S. currently live with Alzheimer’s, and most have a life expectancy of 3 to 10 years after diagnosis. With that number in mind, how were only 83,494 deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s in 2010? The numbers just don’t add up.”

Did somebody flunk math? Who’s minding the Disease funding store?

If I sound like I’m pissed, it’s because I am. I cannot believe this country sends billions and billions of dollars to other countries for research, development and care for their diseases while we suffer and die because there’s not enough money to go around for the home team.

Now, I have Alzheimer’s. If this disease would have been acknowledged and funded like other diseases, there might be a glimmer of hope for me. Since that didn’t happen, my future is bleak. At 54 years of age, I never thought I would be facing the end of my life, but the end is not here yet.

Until that time and as long as I am able, I will do everything within my power to raise awareness and to raise funds for the future generations of people with Alzheimer’s. That means for all of you that read this, I’ll be hitting you up for money. But don’t worry, I won’t hassle you . . . too much.  😉

Until next time,

PEACE!

Still Alice – A MUST SEE!!!

Dallas News reporter Jeffery Weiss published an article about the Movie, “Still Alice” and said,
“There’s a new movie out that’s getting good reviews. ‘Still Alice’ stars Julianne Moore, a fine actor who’s been nominated for an Oscar in the role. It’s the story of a brilliant, successful woman who develops dementia. No less than Jon Stewart says it captures the loss and descent brilliantly.”

He then goes on to list the reason why he won’t see the movie . . . all because of a book he read 40 years earlier, Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther. He writes, “It was also the most terrifying thing I’ve ever read. Part of the strength of the book, why it was chosen for teenagers, is how clearly Johnny is portrayed. He was pretty much everything I aspired to be, so of course I identified with him. Which made the suffering that much more real.
Too real. For several years, any time I got a headache a little part of me whispered “Your turn!”

I read that book also. Yes, it was a tragic story about a young boy who develops a brain tumor and then dies, but then again, there are many books (I hope he has never read a Nicholas Sparks novel) that deal with similar stories. Be it truth or fiction, you can’t just bury your head in the sand. It happens in real life and there’s nothing you can do about it except deal with it.

I equate burying your head in the sand as to turning your back on knowledge. Yes, there are things in life that we DON’T want to hear about or see. I didn’t want to see my Mother and Grandfather struggle with Alzheimer’s. I don’t like looking in the mirror seeing, “Early Onset Alzheimer’s” written across my forehead (it’s not really written on my forehead, but it may as well be) but it’s there. I wish I could be like Mr. Weiss and just say, “I’m not going to deal with this today because it may make me uncomfortable.” Unfortunately I can’t.

What I can do is deal with my EOAD, speak with and support those who are also suffering from this horrible disease, share my knowledge of the latest information I come across and Live in the Moment. Each day I make memories with my family. I try to remain as upbeat and positive as I can for those are the memories I want them to recall. I don’t want them to see the dark side. As hard as I try, it does come out in their presence but they NEVER, EVER turn their back on me.

As soon as “Still Alice” comes to a theater in my area, I will probably be the first in line to get a ticket. Yes, I want to see the extraordinary performance of Julianne Moore but I also want to see how the movie portrays Alice’s future. It just may help in my own future.

To Jeffrey Weiss from the Dallas News, “for those of us who have Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, we wish we had the option of not seeing the things we didn’t want to see, not feeling the things we feel and not being scared shitless about our future. Sooner or later, your head will have to come out of the sand so you can breathe. When you do, instead of trying to escape from all things you are afraid of, learn from them and then share that knowledge. You never know who you are going to help.”

Until next time . . . .

I Can’t Fix Things Anymore

I read a facebook post recently that I found clarifyingly interesting. A wife was talking about her husband, who has Alzheimer’s, and about the frustration he goes through when trying to fix things. It got me thinking and I realized, I was right there with him.

I was never a builder or craftsman but I used to be a really good technical guy. I could figure out computer issues, easily learn computer programs and program technical thigamabobs. I could also put things together pretty easily, if I had directions, but not without frustration, not without screws and nuts leftover and not without lots and lots of cursing, but I still put them together and they are still standing. I am proud of that fact.

Things have changed now that I have Alzheimer’s. Yes, I still try to put things together and program technical thigamabobs and learn new computer programs but, I’m no longer able to do them without assistance. That’s a hard pill to swallow. At first, I felt defeated. Afterall, I’m the husband, the dad, the one they look to when something goes wrong. Now that I’m no longer that guy, I felt as if part of me died.

So, I did what any pig-headed man would do, I continued to try to put things together and fix things. I threw things in frustration and then cursed them. I read, re-read and read again instructions that may as well have been written in Klingon. Instead of fixing things and putting things together, I made them worse. Instead of walking away with a feeling of accomplishment and pride, I slithered away in tears. It did me no good to continue down that road and my family certainly didn’t need to be subjected to that.

So, I went from a Do-er to a Helper. I now listen to them. What I mean by that is, my instinct still says, “I’m the fix it guy. I can do this!” but my wife says, “why don’t you let me help you with that?” or “You should get one of the kids to help you.” They know and understand I still want to be an integral part of this family. They know my frustrations better than anyone. They know what I want to do but they also know that I have limitations and they accept and embrace those limitations. Instead of excluding me, they include me. Sure, they do most of the work and reading of instructions, but I’m right there with them.

So yeah, I can’t fix things anymore. Alzheimer’s has taken that away from me, BUT . . . it has given something in return. It taught me that it’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK to admit to myself that there are certain things I can’t do anymore or don’t remember how to do anymore. It has brought the four of us closer than ever before. It’s not without frustration, sadness, tears and yes, still some cursing (all on my part, by the way, lol) but we work together, as a team.

I have the best family I could ever ask for and for that, I don’t care if I can’t fix anything anymore.

Until next time . . .

Why Tell Everyone about my Alzheimer’s

I’ve been asked the question, “Why tell people that you have Alzheimer’s?”  I guess that questions crossed my mind, but to be honest with you, I didn’t care. No one turned their back on my Mom when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. No one treated my Dad any different when it was determined he had Dementia. So I figured, why should I worry?

I did it so it would be easier for me to accept that fact that I have Early Onset Alzheimer’s. It’s not going away and is now a part of me that I might as well accept.

Deciding who to tell was something totally different. I didn’t blast it out on Facebook for the world to see. I picked and chose who I wanted to share this information with. Every now and then, you will see some of my posts on Facebook about Alzheimer’s but not about me having the disease. I know that sooner or later, word will travel and that is fine with me. Until that time. you are amongst my “Chosen Ones.” Is that too bold? Maybe I’ll make up a new name later but that will have to do for now.  🙂

If you have any questions about Early Onset Alzheimer’s, please don’t be afraid to ask. I have found the more people ask, the more I learn. You can post your questions here in the comments section or you can email me @thebrianleblanc@gmail.com or message me on Facebook. I want to gather as much information as I can (and that I can retain) to help myself, but being able to to help someone else would be the ultimate gift.

That’s about all I have for now. If you want, be sure to follow my blog page. There is a little + key you can press and you will be alerted each time I post something new.

Take care,

B