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Jan.
29, 2001
I
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1996, and wrote
a book about my journey into the disease. Now I have been
rediagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia, got married in
1999 (now I am Christine Bryden) and completed a graduate
diploma in counselling in 2000. I hope to help others with
dementia through counselling, having already helped set
up support groups here in Australia. We can redefine ourselves
-- not as victims of a disease -- nor even as survivors
-- even more positvely we are entering into a new experience,
one which we can share with others. We can take time to
enjoy the here and now of life rather than live for a past
or plan for a future. We can smell the flowers, invest in
relationships, and taste and see that life is good.
Christine
Boden -- author of "Who will I be when I die?"
HarperCollins
Feb.
24, 2001
I
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1995 at the age of 55.
Started on Aricept three years ago. Some of my days are
really cloudy but most are great. I keep busy on the computer
with my web page, daily journal and hosting a couple of
chat rooms for people with Alzheimer's/Dementia. My husband
has been very understanding and when I complain about him
having to do so many of my jobs, he will always tell me
we are in this together. Now I have more time to notice
the birds, flowers and all the beautiful things God offers.
I will be standing in line right behind Diana waiting on
that cure.
Mary
Lockhart
March
2, 2001
My
name is Amanda Wootton. Although one of my Aunts does not
have Alzheimer's disease, my Mother, Aunt, Grandmother and
all of her brothers and sisters all suffered from early
onset Alzheimer's. My Mother is the only survivor. She is
now in a home and she is only 40 years old. I was the subject
of a documentary by the "Nature of Things" [on
CBC Television] about Alzheimer's. I got a test done that
could tell me if I do have the same gene as my mother. This
in turn would tell me if I will get Alzheimer's in my 30s.
My brother has chosen not to get tested.
I do have the gene! And now my four-year-old son has a 50
per cent chance of getting it as well.
I find it very hard to get through a day without wondering
what is going to happen to my family. I have good days and
bad days, but I try to have more good ones than bad. I think
that everyone handles Alzheimer's in their own way and that
is what makes us all individuals. But on the other hand
it also gives us a foot in the door. If I handle one problem
one way and it does not work, maybe someone who is also
having the same problem could help me and others. I don't
really know what to write, so I hope that I did this page
some justice. I find that the more I talk about Alzheimer's
the less I fear it.
Amanda
Wootton
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