Authors Fight Alzheimer’s
Book Signing Fundraiser
January 31st, 2011
THIS EVENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS RAISING OVER $4000 FOR THE ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY
Dedication and Alzheimer’s Fundraising
To my father, William Cavendish Macneill, a World War II veteran. William passed away in 2008 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In memory of my father, half of the ebook author royalties will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease or to make a donation:
http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/index.php
Alzheimer’s Disease … Ruthless and Cruel
When Our Loved Ones Are Diagnosed
DLROW—that’s world spelled backwards; spelling this is just one of the diagnostic tools for determining if someone is experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s. Over 5 million people in the United States have received this heart wrenching diagnosis. With the aging population is it expected that by 2050, 19 million American’s will have Alzheimer’s.
Our brain defines who we are—it is our very essence. We spend our lives vibrantly achieving goals, gaining memories and enjoying wonderful experiences…living. Alzheimer’s steals that away, leaving those afflicted with emptiness and confusion in the last days of their lives.
When my father was diagnosed with this horrible disease, I looked into his eyes and saw the man who raised me, the man who was a WWII pilot, the man who was a successful engineer, the husband to my mother. I also saw confusion and fear. Shortly before he passed away, I looked into those same eyes and saw something I’d never seen before: his spark for life was gone. The disease had extinguished it.
Presently, the only thing that can be done for Alzheimer’s patients is to keep their mind active in hope of slowing the progression of the disease. Care facilities like the Reminiscence Floor of the Sunrise Retirement Communities specialize in doing that as well as maintaining resident’s dignity during their decline. My father was fortunate enough to have the love and support of the staff of Sunrise of Aurora, during his final years. My mother also suffers from dementia and currently resides at Sunrise.
Whether you have a loved one with this terrible disease or not, please consider donating to Alzheimer’s research in hope of finding a cure. Any of us can become afflicted.
Donations in honor of our aging veterans would be warmly appreciated.
Joanne Elder
Author of Spectra—building awareness for Alzheimer’s
READ, THINK…REMEMBER
