Memory Bank

In 1996, my wife Nell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and went through all the early stages of denial, anger and consequent emotions. She was 57 and not ready to accept what, at that time, was seen to be inevitable loss of a lifestyle that she had only recently acquired through early retirement. In any event, despite professional advice to the contrary, we were able to continue a normal life including extensive overseas travel for another 3 years. For a number of reasons including wandering it was necessary for her to enter a Long-term Care Centre in mid 2000. She lost, almost totally at this time, her ability to converse. However, following treatment of all residents twice to prevent the spread of flu the staff and I observed a very noticeable improvement in her cognition enabling her to participate in activities in which she had shown little or no interest before. She was given Amantadine for 3 or 4 years more with rewarding results. The benefits accrued mainly to her but also to me; every day there was a person I had known for the past 30 years still spiritually with me. Don’t ever give up!