Alzheimer's, to many of yous, you already know what it is. And to those who don't. I want to tell you a little bit about it. And how it plays a part of my life.
Alzheimer's disease, also simply Alzheimer's, is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer's is a degenerative and terminal disease for which there is no known cure. In its most common form, it afflicts individuals over 65 years old, although a less prevalent early-onset form also exists. It is estimated that 26.6 million people worldwide were affected by AD in 2006, which could double, even quadruple.
Each individual experiences the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in unique ways. In the early stages, the most commonly recognised symptom is memory loss, such as the difficulty to remember recently learned facts. Earliest occurring symptoms are often mistaken as being noncritical age-related complaints, or forms of stress. As the disease advances, symptoms include confusion, anger, mood swings, language breakdown, long-term memory loss, and the general withdrawal of the sufferer as his or her senses decline. Gradually, minor and major bodily functions are lost, leading ultimately to death.
I don't suffer from this disease. And I pray that I never will. But someone close to me does, and it hurt to know that. A few years ago, my little sister when down to visit some family members. Ad I remember her telling me things. Like how my grandmother would ask her things twice, even more. Little things like do you want something to drink. When she would had ask just a few minutes earlier. Even making a plate for dinner for her husband. The thing was, my grandfather has been deceased for over 20 years. Yet she made a dinner plate for when he comes home from work.
I already knew that she was not going crazy. But that she was already been "attacked" by Alzheimer's.But like everyone would do is tell them self's that, that's not the case. I finally came up with the money, and was able to live the kids with my husband, So that I can go and visit my grandmother.I was happy to finally see her. But at the same time, felt a little upset that it took so long. And the last time I had saw her, she was pretty much grandma.But not this time. She was a more of a child. More like if she was a in her own world. She did not know who I was. Even though it look like she was really trying. There were times that she would hear my dad, or uncles in another room and tell me " you hear him, Thad's my husband in the kitchen, his getting ready for work. And I'm here in this room" She had gotten so bad, that someone has to feed her, because according to her, she already had ate. And because of that, she had lost so much weight.Back in the day, her hair was so long, way past her waist. And now, you cant barely put it up in a pony tail.Everyday it was something new. But the thing was, she knew her parents and who her husband was. I think she was seeing things, her way. When she was a young women.She even asked \d me to go with her on strike. Because her boss would not pay any of the women or her self. It was really weird to think that she actually thought that I was one of her working buddies.I felt bad for my grandma. She lost her husband, when I was just a baby. And she never re-married. She took care of 8 kids on her own. Even though they were pretty much on their own. But that also included grand kids. She was a though lady also. My cousins and I would get in trouble if we joked around the dinner table, or flicked beans at each other. We were children. But she let it know that that's not allow on her house.She would cook for so many of us. And to see her being so strong. To so weak. And know her life and health depends on everyone else. Is a very hard thing.But my grandma will always be strong. Shes fighting now. And she knows it. She said" I don't know how old I am, you dont need a number to live your life. But one day GOD would call me home. And I wont feel a thing".I told my self, that's life.And I have to accept it.So to those of you who might be going through the same thing. I know how you feel. And if you think your love one might have AD or showing some symptoms,don't be scare to ask a doctor.And get information.
