Friday, May 27, 2011

Tag sale for Alzheimer's, and Walk to End Alzheimer's

I've been unemployed for several years (a few temp jobs here and there).  I have no money to donate to Alzheimer's.  So I thought, why not donate other people's money (OPM)?
Next weekend I'm having a tag sale.  So far, I've got stuff from my mom and three of my friends--a 5-family extravaganza--and the money's going to Alzheimer's.  My last tag sale I got $600.  They have that matching program going on now, so if I can raise another $600, they get $1200.  And it's all OPM!
Because this cause is very near to my heart (but not dear, I'll never love this disease) I also send a blurb to the local paper. Not that anyone wants to see my fat face in the news, but if I can get more money (OPM) for the cause, so be it. I'll wear black, it's slimming, right?
I"m not sure how the Walk for Alzheimer's works; this is my first year having a team and the links I put in my sidebar don't go anywhere.  My team is named for this blog url:  alzheimersdad.blogspot.com if you want to join my team or if you just want to add some money to my (so far) empty coffer.
If this causes touches your heart, why don't you do the same?  Everyone's got white elephant and tag-sale type stuff hanging around.  You can't donate it directly, but you can sell it and donate the money.  And your house will be cleaner!

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

what is EARLY ONSET Alzheimer's?

It has really been bothering me lately that the media (fiction and news) have be misusing the term "early onset" in reference to Alzheimer's.
Early-onset Alzheimer's is not early STAGE Alzheimer's. Early-onset Alzheimer's (which my dad had) refers to cases where diagnosis was before age 65. (My dad was 63.)
Someone who is 80 and just got diagnosed doesn't have early onset Alzheimer's. They have early-stage Alzheimer's. There is a difference!

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Unthinkable: the Alzheimer's Epidemic

I received a Facebook message Monday about an Alzheimer's special Larry King and Dr. Drew talked about on Friday.  The actual special Unthinkable: The Alzheimer's Epidemic aired Sunday night (oops--I missed it).  Hopefully it will be shown again, or put on YouTube, or available on DVD.  Right now it's not on Blockbuster as an available rental.
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If you missed it last weekend, tune in to "Unthinkable: the Alzheimer's Epidemic," a Larry King Special, which will air on CNN Saturday, May 7, at 8pm, 11pm, 2am ET.
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Monday, May 02, 2011

1253 days

My dad officially had Alzheimer's 1253 days.
He was diagnosed on 6/21/2004 and he died on 11/26/2007.
It's been 1253 days since he died (as of today, 05/02/2011).
It's been as many days since he died as the length of time he--WE--suffered through the trials and terrors of Alzheimer's.
The 1253 days that he was sick took forever to pass.
The 1253 days he's been gone have been a blink of an eye.
Some days, I really miss my dad.  I just adopted a rescue cat.  He would have loved to hug this big old cat and would have been able to help me calm him and integrate him into the household.  He never really knew the other cats I have now--I'd had Sputz 6 weeks and Ursi only 1 week when my dad was taken away.  He never saw my mom's dog and cat become friends.  He doesn't know I've lost 100 lbs or published books or that this blog is #1 on Google ("Alzheimer's Blog").   He hasn't seen the deck we built last summer or the new hardwood floor in the birdroom.  Hell, he doesn't know all my birds died (unless they are up there with him in the Elsewhere Bar--I like to think they are).  He doesn't know that some Navy Seals shot Osama Bin Laden in the head yesterday.   My dad would have been 71 this summer.  He should still be here.
Alzheimer's robbed my dad of all these things and more.  Alzheimer's robbed me and my mom of so many things.  My mom will never be the same.  Being a caregiver for 1253 days stripped something essential out of her that is never going to come back. 
My dad was always into playing his "special" numbers in the lottery.  He'd be telling me I should play 1253 in the Daily 4.  I'm going to Stop and Shop tomorrow, I'll pick up a ticket. If I win, I'll donate the money to Alzheimer's.