ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

How has this disease changed you as a person?

It is different to everyone. This disease - Alzheimer's - not only changes the mental behavior and personality of the one who is stricken. It can and many times does, change the behavior of the caretaker as well.

This is a little piece from my husband. First a little bit about my husband's relationship with his father. There was never a time when he didn't think his father loved him with his whole heart. And Jimmy felt the same. Joe was a good father, great husband, and just a great man. When they were young they would always find things to argue about, but it was never violent or cussing. As Jimmy got older the arguing began to subside and they drew closer to each other.

This disease is very frustrating, and aggravating. Jimmy was having trouble having patience with his father. He will shamefully say he cursed at him, pinched him, pulled him, pushed him, and treated him by far much worse than he had treated anyone else in the world.

It wasn't until Joe died that the shame set in an and Jimmy would apologize many times a day to his father, asking forgiveness for days, weeks, and months. He was ashamed and horrified beyond words for his actions.

I wanted to share this with you. I want you to know that you are not alone. That this disease plays differently with every one and we are not all proud of what it did to us, and how we treated our loved one, but we can learn from it.

The purpose for writing this book is to let you see what it did to this family, and how differently we were all affected by it. It is something to read and consider before you take on this awesome responsibility.

Any thoughts on this matter? How is this disease affecting your family?

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com