From My Fren (Stacey Trottier): 09.21.15

We remember their love when they can no longer remember💜

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day and this is my Mimi. Organizations all over the world are bringing awareness to this heart wrenching disease today and with 5.4 million Americans affected I’m sure you or someone you know can relate.

My grandmother Mimi had Alzheimer’s and for many years our family watched and cared for her as it took over her brain and she/we struggled with the memory loss, the bouts of confusion, and holding onto those precious moments where her eyes lit up and she remembered us.. If only for a moment.

Hers was my first experience with disease and death. She passed away the day before my mom’s birthday and I remember it was raining the day of her funeral. But rather than remember her for the Alzheimer’s (although it does motivate to act and research as a scientist and as the risk to get it runs high in the females in our family…Brain fitness is important to me) I remember Mimi for her generosity, her commitment to her family, her huge and loving heart, her unbelievable fashion sense (no white after Labor Day! And wear lipstick), her suga and meat sauce, her humor (she once told us Dean Martin was her boyfriend), her strength, and her Italian beauty.

There is a walk to end Alzheimer’s on Oct 3 on the Oceanside pier. I will be out of town, but donating still. If you’re here I encourage you to don purple, walk, and help raise funds to find a cure for the third killer behind heart disease and cancer. Right now there is no cure or treatment to prevent or slow it down at all.

Memories matter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *