Please feel free to check out a wonderful piece in a New York newspaper on the "Love and Heartache" of Alzheimer's Disease. They followed 6 families at different stages of the illness, one of which was an EOAD family (this is my family). www.Newsday.com (click on "Alzheimer's link at the top of the home page). These stories are amazing and have created such a reaction. They were written beautifully and the pictures speak volumes. I had to share them.

Karen
Westbury, NY

Wow. Hard not to cry at work.

I am SO proud to be a part of this story and even more thankful that our newspaper put so much time, energy and money into this project - it truly reflects the realities of this disease. No sugar coating. Most of the readers that have contacted me since, say they NEVER knew just how horrific this disease really is. That was our goal. The more that people see what living with EOAD/AD is all about, the better the chance that change will come.

karen, i just found this and watched it. Your kids amaze me!! They have learned such a valuable lesson in life. They are so unselfish which so many kids in this generation are not. I can see my kids in your kids. mine are 9 &11, and my 89y.o. gma lives w/ us. she has dementia, and they have learned so much just how to deal w/ her. They have seen her at her worst and they help her get through it. My heart goes out to you and your family as ya'll go through this in life. I know you are so proud of yours and mikes children, it beyond words.... Just 6 years ago, i thought a.d. was just forgetting things, but its so much more and im 31 now. Look at what our kids know now at their young age and i had NO clue when i was in my 20's!! Thankyou so much for sharing this. I will keep all of you in my prayers.

Karen, one of my co-workers has been saving her Newsday for me. I read your story when it first came out. I read it on the bus on my way home from work - I bawled like a baby and I didn't care who stared at me. You and your family are truly amazing.

Tiffany & Marjk - Your responses have validated that what I wanted to do by being a part of Newsday's series has been accomplished. I just want people to "get it", to understand what our lives are like when we live with someone with AD. MANY people do think that AD is "just forgetting things", and we can all attest to the fact that it is so much more.
Thank you both for reading/watching our story. It was written with passion and presented beautifully. This disease is THE WORST and the world needs to know it.
At the Memory Walk in NYC yesterday the chairperson commented about how little is being done as far as research money. That's because there are NO SURVIVORS and all their caregivers are so stressed and burnt out, they have no strength left to fight.
I have been fighting this disease for the last 8 years and I will continue to do so until I know that my children's future is brighter and more hopeful than it is now.
We all need to tell our stories, to anyone and everyone that will listen.
God bless each and every one of us.
Thank you.

Dear Karen:

I have just finished watching your video on Newsday. You, your husband, and your children have my utmost respect and admiration. Your children have learned lessons that take people most of their lives to figure out. Don't worry so much about whether AD will strike, but move forward with your life and LIVE! Thank you for sharing your story.

I, too, worry about the future of a cure for AD. Caregivers are so exhausted caring for their LO that they don't have the time to push for research. Also, the need for substantial supervision as well as medical needs pretty much takes all financial resources. Thus, fewer dollars for donating toward research.

Thank you again for sharing your story.