Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Welcome to My Blog
Hi and welcome to my blog. I decided a long time ago that I would start this blog but it took me three years to get started, and get the courage to make some of my thoughts public. Here is my story...
My name is Lenny and this is about my dad. He is 80 years old and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 7 years ago. Of course, back then the best they could say was "we think it's Alzheimer's but there is no definitive test... except an autopsy." Whatever it was, we knew his memory was declining and we could hardly imagine what the future held.
You see, no matter how much you read and how much people tell you, there is no way to emotionally prepare yourself for the ravages of dimentia.
Michel, my dad, is, or should I say was, a brilliant man. He was an accomplished artist, an extraordinary creative director, an inventor, creator, orator, writer and humanitarian. He accomplished more in his life and career than most do in five lifetimes. And when this horrible disease struck he was far from completing his life works. He used to say he had to live to 120 just to do everything he wanted to do (and he was sure God would let him).
I was living in Chicago when we started seeing the symptons of dimentia such as forgetting events and names, getting lost while driving and difficulty following along in conversations. It was easy to say that these were normal signs of aging but over time it became obvious they were not "normal."
Three years ago I decided to move back to the NY area to spend more time with dad, and although I am grateful that I had two good years with him, I could not have predicted how much his illness would affect me personally. It has been the hardest three years of my life and I know the worst is yet to come.
For a long time after moving back I tried to see him on a very regular basis, mostly on Wednesdays, hence the title of my blog. I would do weekends with mom and dad, but Wednesdays were our day alone. I'd take him out to visit old friends, see movies, shop for art supplies, and of course, lunch, which he so much enjoyed. These were outings that I will always cherish, as they were the last that I will remember dad as himself, with so much to share and never a moment of silence.
I did my best to journal most of our days out, at least what I could remember when I returned home. I have over 100 pages of memories from those two years, September 2004 to July 2006, when dad suffered a minor stroke leaving him with aphasia (loss of his ability to produce language).
As I continue to blog my thoughts in the future, I will share "flashbacks" from my journal because I feel that there is so much to offer. For those who happen upon this blog and have similar experiences that you wish to share, I welcome your comments.
For now, I sign out with a final (not necessarily original) thought: Live every day to its fullest, and spend time with those who are important to you, because you never know when that time will run short.
Lenny
My name is Lenny and this is about my dad. He is 80 years old and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 7 years ago. Of course, back then the best they could say was "we think it's Alzheimer's but there is no definitive test... except an autopsy." Whatever it was, we knew his memory was declining and we could hardly imagine what the future held.
You see, no matter how much you read and how much people tell you, there is no way to emotionally prepare yourself for the ravages of dimentia.
Michel, my dad, is, or should I say was, a brilliant man. He was an accomplished artist, an extraordinary creative director, an inventor, creator, orator, writer and humanitarian. He accomplished more in his life and career than most do in five lifetimes. And when this horrible disease struck he was far from completing his life works. He used to say he had to live to 120 just to do everything he wanted to do (and he was sure God would let him).
I was living in Chicago when we started seeing the symptons of dimentia such as forgetting events and names, getting lost while driving and difficulty following along in conversations. It was easy to say that these were normal signs of aging but over time it became obvious they were not "normal."
Three years ago I decided to move back to the NY area to spend more time with dad, and although I am grateful that I had two good years with him, I could not have predicted how much his illness would affect me personally. It has been the hardest three years of my life and I know the worst is yet to come.
For a long time after moving back I tried to see him on a very regular basis, mostly on Wednesdays, hence the title of my blog. I would do weekends with mom and dad, but Wednesdays were our day alone. I'd take him out to visit old friends, see movies, shop for art supplies, and of course, lunch, which he so much enjoyed. These were outings that I will always cherish, as they were the last that I will remember dad as himself, with so much to share and never a moment of silence.
I did my best to journal most of our days out, at least what I could remember when I returned home. I have over 100 pages of memories from those two years, September 2004 to July 2006, when dad suffered a minor stroke leaving him with aphasia (loss of his ability to produce language).
As I continue to blog my thoughts in the future, I will share "flashbacks" from my journal because I feel that there is so much to offer. For those who happen upon this blog and have similar experiences that you wish to share, I welcome your comments.
For now, I sign out with a final (not necessarily original) thought: Live every day to its fullest, and spend time with those who are important to you, because you never know when that time will run short.
Lenny
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Hey Len,
Thanks for sharing...seems you have a lot of the same traits as Aunt Jo. You my cousin are an inspiration to me.
Love ya, Aaron
Thanks for sharing...seems you have a lot of the same traits as Aunt Jo. You my cousin are an inspiration to me.
Love ya, Aaron
Hi Len,
This was very moving to me. You are a very special Son to your Mom and Dad. My Prayers are with you and your Parents. I especially know this is not an easy time in your lives.
Your friend,
Peter
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This was very moving to me. You are a very special Son to your Mom and Dad. My Prayers are with you and your Parents. I especially know this is not an easy time in your lives.
Your friend,
Peter
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