So.
This is my cousin Lee, a photo from childhood that captures everything amazing about her, especially her love of the water. She's pretty amazing in every way and her accomplishments humble me - she's smart, wicked funny, well traveled, bilingual, she's a boat captain, a harbor master, restaurant owner, swimming instructor, women's fire arms safety instructor, a wife, mom, and grandmom. She's 54.
She has early onset Alzheimer's.
Just like our Grandmother. Only sooner.
So.
I said some awful things to the Universe when I got the news yesterday, cursed a little, cried a little. I'm going to be pissed for a very long time, quite likely forever. I'm not going to handle this with the grace Lee has, I just don't have it in me. It's just so fucking unfair.
So.
.
I would curse too. Believe me. I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteGod how awful. I hate that. I hated watching what Alzheimers did to my grandparents, too...hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh Me......No, no, NO...another victim to a brain illness....no. 54 is too young but no one deserves to have their mind taken from them bit by bit.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and let us hope that while she has been diagnosed, that her progression into this is very slow....
Mel,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that your young cousin Lee is facing this disease. It truly is awful.
I have benn thinking lately about all the time I have squandered with fatigue and depression thinking "this is too hard." and often I was tired and it was hard.
But now I am in a better more realistic place knowing the future is a well, only we don't know how deep it is.
Lee's affliction must make me and anyone who knows her reaffirm our resolve to enjoy what there is even on the bad days.
And it is hard.
Sending you a hug sweet Mel.
I am so sorry to hear this, Mel. Have you read the book "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova? It's written from the point of view of a young professor who comes down with Early Onset Alzheimers. I found it very reassuring in some ways, although it sure made me cry.
ReplyDeleteThis is so unfair Mel. So very sorry to hear it.
ReplyDeleteDear Mel, what rotten news. She is my age, and I feel young in spite of the aches in my joints most days. This is a hard one. We have this in my family too, on my dad's side. it used to be called senility. I am so sorry about your cousin.
ReplyDeleteMel, I'm so sorry for you and for your cousin. One of my closest friends, just my age, had the same thing and I had the sad experience of watching the slow decline. I took care of her one day a week in the earlier stages and we managed still to have fun together and I learned so much from her and her condition. Blessings to you both.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. This is one of my worst fears. May she be one of the lucky who respond well to meds. I have a 69 yr. old cousin with dementia and it is hard to observe her decline.
ReplyDelete