I wanted to share the following email with you. I don't think I have ever been so proud in my life...
I know we always appreciate volunteers, but for this woman who is having so much trouble in her life to have had such a good experience, is WONDERFUL.
I am proud to hear we are helping the volunteers to have a "WONDERFUL" time too!
Thank you for helping LuAnne volunteer at KCIF. She really loves being part of your festival. She tired quickly but had a great time. Please give our special thanks to Julie in the Children’s Area Art Tent. She was wonderful. And thank Shawn for getting us together with Julie, and for having LuAnne’s face painted. She loved it. Check out the photo below.
Brad
Walk with “LuAnne’s Clan” at The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, September 16th, 2012 in Lincoln, NE.
Just over two years have passed since LuAnne was diagnosed with Semantic Dementia and life continues to change. We keep busy and even though LuAnne has many challenges and disappointments there are also many things we do and enjoy. We made trips to visit LuAnne’s sister in Denver and our son in Louisiana, and this Labor Day we spent the weekend at the Kansas City Irish Festival. LuAnne volunteers at the festival every time we go and she was determined to do so again this year. The festival was very supportive and found us a good place to volunteer in the children’s area. As you can see from the photo LuAnne enjoyed the face painting. Dancing has always been a passion for LuAnne, and we still dance when we can, but not all night. LuAnne usually only manages one or two dances, but she enjoys getting out, and feels good afterwards. Our friends know how much she had enjoyed being a dance caller, however, she stopped calling Irish Ceili (Kay-lee) dances over a year ago and this spring she finally stopped calling dances at Lincoln’s monthly Contra Dance.
LuAnne still misses her job. While many of us would relish the thought of retirement, there is nothing LuAnne would like more than having a job. She had been volunteering but unfortunately that opportunity came to an end. Then this summer she was told to stop driving. It was a real blow to her but I admit I worried about her driving. In addition we threw a complete kitchen remodel at her. That would challenge anyone but somehow she has managed to get through it.
Semantic Dementia
LuAnne’s Semantic Dementia focuses on the language centers of the brain, and makes it difficult to follow conversations or read much beyond a paragraph or two. Things she used to enjoy like reading a book or watching a movie are not possible for her. She has difficulty remembering names or faces, but often, if she can remember your house or where you work then she will suddenly remember who you are. It is sort of like finding the front door of your house locked and having to come in the back door instead. Not remembering people is the thing that bothers LuAnne most.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is an equal opportunity disease.
Unfortunately LuAnne is not alone. Here are a few well known dementia sufferers:
• Ronald Reagan - Former President of the United States
• Margaret Thatcher - Former Prime Minister of England
• Sargent Shriver - Former U S Ambassador to France, founder of the Peace Corp, and father of Maria Shriver former first lady of California
• Pat Summit - Former NCAA Div I Women's Basketball coach for the Tennessee Volunteers.
All in all, more than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia and, unless the course of this disease is changed, this number is expected to grow to more than 16 million by the year 2050. This does not include the number of caregivers and care facilities required to take care of these dementia sufferers. And these are only the personal costs. I understand the financial costs are staggering.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s®
I am walking for LuAnne and speaking up about Alzheimer’s and dementia because LuAnne is not able to speak for herself. She is my life’s partner, and I am hers.
If you would like to join us at the walk we would be honored. There is no cost to participate and we’d love to have you walk with “LuAnne’s Clan.”
The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® in Lincoln, Nebraska is:
September 16, 2012
Village Gardens
56th and Pine Lake Road (On the east side of Campbell’s Garden Center)
Lincoln, Ne
Registration is a 1:00pm and the walk is at 2:00pm.
There is no cost to participate in the walk. Of course, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, is a fundraiser. If you are able, and would like to, please consider making a donation in whatever amount your budget allows to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments, and a cure for Alzheimer’s. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support, and resources in communities nationwide.
I am the team captain for “LuAnne’s Clan”. If you would like to make a donation on my donation page, just click on the link below or copy it into your web browser.
You can also donate on the “LuAnne’s Clan” team page by clicking on the link below or copying it into your web browser.
Whether you can donate or not, we would be honored if you would walk with “LuAnne’s Clan.”
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Brad
