Sorry Anna. My Grandfather died of ALS 15 years ago and I still remember the look in his eyes today. Its hard to lose someone you love. My sincerest sympathies.
NVME77
I am so sorry for your loss. I have no words of wisdom or the ability to take away the pain, I wish I did. You will be in my thoughts.
Thanks, NVme77 and Ayesha.
TVAA - I don’t think that’s insensitive. I have never had the experience of dealing with Alzheimers, but I have friends who have, and I’m guessing that the experiences are equally dreadful. However, somehow, for me, it is even worse to know that your loved one is in there, concious, mentally alive, yet unable to communicate even the simplest thing. I don’t know - somehow it would be comforting (I’m guessing) to know that though it is difficult for us, the family, to deal with Alzheimers, from what we can tell, the victimes don’t have that constant knowledge and fear of what is happening to them.
Of course, as I said, YMMV - not trying to make one seem worse than the other. They are both soul-devouring horrible diseases. FOr my part, I would rather NOT know what was happening to me, I guess. Please God, I will never have to experience either.
I’m sorry Anna. I wish I had the right words to embrace you and brush your tears away.
My deepest condolences, Anna.
Though I have no personal experience with this awful disease, I once saw a soap actor who had (and eventually died from) ALS, and I remember how shocked I was at the degree and speed of the deterioration he suffered.
Sounds like your aunt was a wonderful woman who fought her battle with courage–and the help of a loving family. I hope the days ahead will bring you comfort and peace. {{{{Anna}}}}
danceswithcats, I’ll collect a hug at DopeaWeen, ok?
Mayflower - thanks. It’s getting easier as the family (which is scattered to the four winds) is all coming together to support each other.
I’m so sorry for your loss AnnaLucretia.
I’m doing a Neurology rotation at the moment, and patients with ALS (and other forms of Motor Neurone Disease) are some of the hardest people to cope with. It’s devastating, horrible and undignified, and there’s nothing anyone can do.
Again, I’m very sorry.
Mayflower, I think that you are thinking of Michael Zaslow, who passed away in December 1998, a little more than a year after his diagnosis.
Anna, I know how you are feeling.
My aunt Kathryn, known to all as “Dede”, passed away from complications relating to ALS in 1989. Aunt Dede was like a second mom to me–I used to spend every summer down in Virginia with her. She was the kindest person I’ve ever known, and even fourteen years later I miss her.
When I was going through hard times at college, I often thought of how proud Aunt Dede was that I was going there. She had always wanted to go, but my mom’s family wasn’t well-off enough to put her through college, and she ended up at a nursing school instead. One of the last things she ever told me was that she wanted me to hold on to all the chances I had to learn in life.
Some time during the next twelve months, I will be receiving my doctoral degree. I plan to dedicate my dissertation to Aunt Dede.
Anna, I hope that you will be able to hold as many good memories of your aunt as I did mine. You and your whole family are in my thoughts tonight.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Anna. My heart goes out to you and your family, and most of all, your aunt. No one should have to go through seeing a loved one deteriorate like that, let alone be the one to have to suffer in that manner.
I pray that someday, we’ll be able to find ways to prevent, treat, and circumvent these diseases in all their numerous forms.
I pray that even sooner, we allow for assisted suicide legislation, so that people can make the choice for themselves whether or not to die a slow debilitating death with no hope of a cure.
You’re correct, NotWithoutRage. As Roger Thorpe, he was my favorite “guy you love to hate” on Guiding Light. It was while he was on this show that fans began to notice something was wrong–he seemed to be having trouble walking and talking–and we noticed it some time before his diagnosis. It really made me sad to see such a vibrant personality suffer such a swift and terrible decline.