She Started to Forget
Long before her diagnosis, Susan was the kind of person who rallied a whole community to support one of its own during a hard time. That was simply who she was. Susan first began showing signs that her memory was slipping when she was 70. Like so many with this disease, she couldn't see it happening in herself, which is part of what makes it so hard to treat. Over the years she lost more and more of her life. Toward the end, it was common for her to forget that she had been married, that she had children and grandchildren, even the names of her own parents.
In many ways, Susan was one of the lucky ones. She was often at peace, and she brought kindness and laughter to the community where she lived. Other families face depression, anger, or bodies that slowly stop moving and eating. We were spared the worst of it. Even so, none of us would wish this on any family. It asks an enormous amount - care, patience, and steadiness through the hardest moments.
Our hope is that part of Susan's legacy will be helping others find a cure, so that fewer families have to walk this road. If you'd like to honor Susan, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in her memory. Now it's our turn to do what Susan always did which was rally the community around a cause that matters. Every gift moves us closer to a day when no family has to say goodbye to someone they love this way. Please join us in her honor.
