'Thank you, heavenly Father': Faith, Alzheimer's and my husband Glen Campbell

http://www.foxnews.com ^ | October 24, 2014 | Kim Campbell

[NKP_Vet]

My husband, Glen Campbell, has stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Seven months ago, at the recommendation of his doctors, we placed him in a memory care facility close to our home in Nashville.

It’s a community that’s designed specifically for the needs of those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They have all kinds of therapies and activities that stimulate parts of the brain affected by the illness. It’s a safe and secure environment where he receives around-the-clock care.

It’s been good for him. He just seems more at peace there than he was at home, where he became increasingly agitated and frantic.

He lives in a mental fog most of the time. He’s lost most of his language skills and has a hard time communicating. He still has moments of lucidity, though, and those moments let us know he’s still in there and that he’s the Glen we’ve always known. He can make short sentences and say things like “I love you” and “We are so blessed.”

The aides and nurses say he must have been a godly man because they always see him thanking the Lord. I’ve seen him walk over to the window and lift up his hands and say, “Thank you, heavenly Father.”

[dead]

His last song/video is beautiful, but so sad it's heartbreaking.

Glen Campbell - I'm Not Gonna Miss You

[Jane Long]

Daily we pray for grace and mercy as he approaches the final stages of this illness and are so thankful for the moments we see Glen being Glen.

---

Wonderful story. Thanks for posting....

His closing song, at his last performance (in Napa, CA)...A Better Place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMh78jF-fMQ

My personal fave....
Witchita Lineman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qoymGCDYzU

[CharlesOConnell]

There's good news that Alzheimer's appears to be highly preventable, but like retirement or college funds for kids, escaping this fate requires very long-term planning.

Dr. Fortanasce had a very strong relationship with his father, textbook wonderful. They used to attend baseball games together frequently. One day he mentioned it his Dad, got an indifferent response where it had alway been enthusiastic, he made the tragic diagnosis of Alzheimer's, soon his relationship with his Dad was lost. Dr. Fortanasce has a very personal interest in Alzheimer's

Dr. Fortanasce (Italian for "Strongborn"), Clinical Professor of Neurology at USC, has a special program, book (The Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription: The Science-Proven Prevention Plan to Start at Any Age) and numerous media appearances about this prevention regimen.

here

healthybrainmd.com/conditions-treat/d-e-r-program/

 

[Huntress]

I read elsewhere that Mr. Campbell has not lost his ability to play the guitar. I wonder if that is part of his therapy.

[CharlesOConnell]

Get your rest. During one of the phases of sleep, space between brain neurons increases 60%. A special cleansing system washes away amalyoid plaque, the Alzheimer’s cause culprit. (A term to know: glial cells are neuron helpers. The lymphatic system is the body’s cleanup system. Glial + Lymphatic = Glymphatic, the system that moves out the amalyoid plaques during sleep. Get at least 7 hours of sleep, get rid of blue lights in the bedroom that interrupt the circadian rhythm, blue lights make your brain think it’s time for up-and-at-em, you can even keep your eyes closed when using the restroom at night so you’ll go right back to sleep.)

[Phlap]

He could play a lick, that is for sure.

[petercooper]

bttt

[aMorePerfectUnion]

One word solution - niacidamide.

Removes plaques that cause problem

[skinkinthegrass]

*

[married21]

Is niacidamide a vitamin or something?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bkrmk

[petercooper]

Vitamin B3.

[RIghtwardHo]

I know. Isn’t it?

What a wonderful individual.

[pa_dweller]

I’ve swapped out the standard night light bulb for the red Christmas tree type. You can still see enough but you don’t ruin your night vision.

[Revel]

Recent news says he should be eating lots of unrefined Chocolate.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

... One of the b vitamins

[cloudmountain]

BREAKS my heart.

[Tax-chick]

Motor skills are a different part of the brain from everyday cognition. It’s entirely expected that Glen Campbell could still play the guitar. Alzheimer’s patients also commonly revert to their childhood language, if that’s different from what they spoke as adults. One of my friends said that her husband used to grouch, “Why doesn’t anyone understand English anymore?!” and she would reply, “You’re speaking Spanish, Miguel.”