My Dad has Alzheimer's Part 2

-

My dad is brilliant and charming and full of swagger. My dad is poet. When I was a little girl I often mixed up my dad and Bob Dylan.
My dad dreams big. He has an idea and then he has the balls to just do it. He has made and lost several fortunes that way. My dad is an ancient Christian Buddhist who believes in Navajo. My dad is a first class groover.
My dad has early onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's has taken his brain and filled it with plaques and tangles and it makes it hard for him to remember. This has been so hard. Hardest for him. Hard for everyone. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease. For eight years we have struggled. We, as a family, have watched the disease creeping into our lives. My dad calls it "the storm".
It can isolate someone. But we won't let it. My dad still has a lot up his sleeve. He still has so much to contribute. He's way too young to hang with the geriatrics and he has always been so, so social. He still plays in his band and it so good. He is still rocking in many ways.
I want to use my blog to reach out. To let you know the positive and the negative. To know that this disease is here to stay, but to give you a chance to stay in moment with us. Maybe we can do this together. In a positive way.
There is a great video I really want to share with you. Take three minutes and watch it if you will. It explains a lot about the disease and our path. If the above video doesn't work, you can try the link below.
Check it out http://youtu.be/7_kO6c2NfmE.

Comments

cheris said…
So I've been thinking about this a lot over the years. I really admire your whole family and especially your parents. I think they are amazing. In fact, I look to them as an example of how to have a wonderful relationship with my children when they are adults. (Let me know if your dad has any good advice on raising daughters. He obviously did a great job.) So what I'm saying is that, although this is not a situation I'd want anyone to be in, your family is better equipped to make the best of it than anyone else I know. You all are such a great team. Not that it isn't the hardest thing ever... I'm just glad you all have each other.
(BTW, where is the Part 1 post? I'm not seeing it...)
May 31, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Amber said…
Thanks Cheris. We are also glad everyday that we have each other.
Part 1 is hidden in April. I just couldn't like having at the top.
June 1, 2011 at 3:15 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Roof

-
Image
We have a new roof. Our tile roof was supposed to last a lifetime, but it was put on incorrectly and so we've been fighting leaks ever since we moved in. We had some bids offered on both a new tile roof or on several different types of metal. We chose a metal roof because I grew up with a metal roof and loved it and because it was less expensive than the tile. It took the crew seven working days to take off the tile and put up the new roof. They did a great job and we really love it. We were worried at first that it wouldn't be as beautiful, but we really do like it. Now I want to repaint the front door though.
Read more

New Directions/New Blog

-
The times, they are a'changing. I think it might be time to start something new. I have the idea that I want to start a new travel website/blog. I want it to be fancy and pretty. It will be a place to focus all my travel obsession/passion. I will blog our trips there and talk about travel with children. I will post when I find places that I want to travel to and I will post when I find great travel deals. I will talk about the points game too. I want to talk about Generational Travel. I want to talk about traveling with small children, but I also want to talk about how it is to travel with my dad and my grandparents. I haven't been able to find any websites out there that talk about travel with alzheimers and I think it would be helpful to some people. Katie already told me she'd help with my social media. (sure, with all her spare time. ;)) This blog has been my journal for seven years. I have loved keeping a record of my family here. Each year, when I rec...
Read more

Love for My Boys

-
Image
First, Sam. Sam is in such a sweet stage right now. Gentle, giving, fun, sweet, easy. He loves to cuddle and share. He's talking a ton now and growing so fast. He's learning to ride a bike and yesterday and twice today, he pooped in the potty! He's only 21 months!!! He's working on his two year old molars and has been carrying around an old metal rattle to chew on. This morning he accidentally whacked Davis on the head with it. Davis cried and I pulled him in my lap. Sam ran over and crawled up next to us on the couch. "What happened?", he asked, deeply concerned. I explained that he had hurt his brother. Sammy said, "So Sorry, Dadis. Hug.", and gave him a big hug. Then he said to Davis, "I loves you.". I've never heard him say he loved anything or anyone and I was so touched to hear him say it to his brother. He would follow Davis anywhere and does. He leaps from the couch after Davis and tromps through the grass. He ex...
Read more