geegee (Active Peer Volunteer since May 2011)
Greetings, I'm geegee! Just after my 63rd birthday, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Although I knew I had struggled for several years, it was still a shock to hear the diagnosis. When searching for Alzheimer's information, I clicked on alz.org and found more information than I ever expected! More importantly, I read the Message Boards and found a way to help me go forward with AD. There is a positive, understanding spirit that I hope to foster as a new Peer Volunteer for Spring 2011.
I'm an only child, born in Texas, a proud 4th generation Texan, who remained there until about 25 years ago when I moved to Florida. My greatest accomplishment was watching my children grow up, finish their education, and become caring, loving parents to their own children! While they were in high school, I decided to go to college even though my life was full as a mom, wife, businesswoman, and even community volunteer. Just call me crazy in my 40s! After years of juggling study hours, I received my B.F.A. with a concentration in Painting and a minor in Art History.
When first diagnosed with AD, I considered it "early onset" because that seemed young or early for me. Then, I read the Message Boards and discovered my peers that live with AD and other dementias that are much younger! Personally, I felt gratitude for my situation since I knew my AD medications had already helped my concentration and speech. They seemed to have slowed the progression and I felt thankful and hopeful! It confirmed my belief that the only way to go forward was to choose my attitude daily (for as long as I have control).
To better understand how to start participating on the Boards, I browsed and read experiences. When I registered in July 2010, I added a signature line to remind myself and others: "Find the sunshine in your day!" I embrace this choice of attitude to remain positive, happy, and to find "something" beautiful in my day to be thankful for. Sunshine is anything that can change a negative view/mood or brings a smile; it's a butterfly, loved one, memory...any endless thanksgiving or beauty.
My supportive family consists of loving adult children, grandchildren, my "hubby" of 13 years, and my hubby's kids now in their late teens. Alzheimer's is not just happening to me, but to my family who must watch and do and remain positive and endure!
I think it may actually be the dedicated loved ones that provide care for our needs that may suffer and experience more pain and sadness than those of us with AD or related dementias. We know the amount and feeling of the pain we experience when we are caring for a loved one; but to my knowledge, there is no measure of the experience of the person with dementia. I choose to believe there may be "sunshine" and an artist's color palette behind those eyes that may appear lost.
While we are together on this long road, I hope we can offer each other some mutual support, hope, sunshine, and smiles. Our future is further encouraged as I read of ongoing "cooperative" research to find a cure. I choose to believe a cure for Alzheimer's is on the horizon--near the sunshine!
