Alzheimer's Awareness

This Saturday, my sister-in-law, Kelly George will participating in a Blondes vs. Brunettes Powder Puff Football Game to benefitting the Alzheimer's Association. BvB@TxAlz.org

This is of particular importance to me because this is the disease that killed my Great-Grandmother (my maternal great-granmother) and my Nanny Rayda (my maternal grandmother).

I don't know much about my Nanny's early life. I know she married and raised to wonderful daughters. But, what I do know is that she was a great Grandmother to me. Sometimes, my mother tells me I am exactly like her and I think that is a compliment. She was a beautiful and loving person. They say that children spell love T-I-M-E. And so, based on the time she spent with her grandchildren, I would say that she loved us pretty well! My best memories of her our of Saturdays spent at garage sales, or trips to Walmart and the Dollar Store. She would always buy me stationary and pens and then bring home and watch me write. She was fascinated with watching me write because I was left handed. I know that may sound funny to some, but can you imagine as a young girl having the undivided attention of an adult as they spent time with you doing something as simple as writing or drawing. Pretty cool, huh!! Oh, and one of the best times was when my Papa bought a golf cart and my Nanny would let me drive it all around the school parking lot. As we got older, her style changed and it wouldn't be strange to say that we shopped at the same stores. That was blast! However, during my Senior year in High School, Nanny started forgetting things. Simple things at first, misplacing her keys or purse several times a day. Pretty soon, she was forgetting a lot of things. She was in her late 50's, early 60's when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. How could this beautiful, healthy woman, who didn't look a day over 50 be dying of this disease? It didn't seem fair at all. She took care of her mother when she had the same disease, she took care of herself physically, and she was a sweet and kind woman. So how could this be happening to an otherwise completely healthy person? It was a slow decline at first, but then she forgot us. Sometimes, it seemed like she struggled, somewhere inside of her she knew that she should be able to remember things, events...us. It was heartbreaking. And then, on January 15, 2008, my sweet Nanny went to Heaven. I almost couldn't bear to see her in her casket. Peeking over the side to stare at her beautiful face, I was struck at who very young she looked. She was 71 but looked much younger. Alzheimer's Disease robbed her of many years and the chance to know her 3 great-grand daughters.

I commend my sister-in-law, for participating in this event in to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Hopefully, I can become involved in some way, in memory of my Nanny!