[Bobbisox]

I just spent the weekend with my Mother and Dad at their 61st Anniversary. Every 15 minutes or so, my sweet Mother would ask why I did not come to the party. She would whisper to my Dad “who is that woman?” My beautiful son, now 33, rushed over to his grandmother with a hug and a kiss, and then leaned over and whispered to my Dad “who was that?” When she realizes what she has done...she cries. We would hug and kiss, I would walk away to the kitchen, and she would then ask my son “why didn't you Mom come to the party?” It was that way all weekend!

Totally frustrating in that you know there is not one thing you can do to ease her pain. On Monday, I called my Dad to see if they got home ok. Dad said that she now does not even remember going.

This insidious disease must be a top priority of our nation.

[PleaseNoMore]

I pray for a cure for this disease. I lost my grandmother to it. The changes she went through were horrific as Alheimers ravaged her brain.

[Blackhawk]

I understand your pain. I have watched my Grandfather and then my Grandmother both succumb to this horrible disease. I watched as their failing memories and dementia tore their son, my father, apart. After they were gone my Father had a talk with me about his future. He looked like a scared little boy. We wept for a time and then went on as before.

He no longer remembers that conversation and is showing the first stages of the disease.

The one thing I keep telling myself, (advise from my Dad), is that the person with the disease doesn't know. If they can be happy, if oblivious, then its not so bad for them. On the other hand my Grandfather was a cranky old bas**ard, but then he kind of was before anyway.

Still waiting to see which my Dad will be. It would be nice if this drug worked and we didn't have to find out.

[brytlea]

My wonderful Mother in Law had it for about the last 10 years of her life. It was so sad to see her decline. My Father in Law took care of her at home, God bless him. She was too difficult to travel with after awhile, so they stopped traveling. He died of a heart attack after a very short illness, and she died less than 48 hours later. I’m so sorry about your mother. It’s like they are stolen from you.

susie

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I was primary caregiver for my mother. For about 5 years.

Others casually speak of the conventional red tape of the FDA holding this back for ten years, but there are just too many people and their children and grandchildren who are affected, and too devastatingly, for business as usual to fly.

"Safety" is a red herring issue when the disease is fatal, and catastrophic for the family before the actual fatality. The only serious issue is effectiveness. You'd trade five years of living death for one year of clarity in a heartbeat.