Fraying at the Edges: Her Fight to Live with Alzheimer’s
Today the editor of my forthcoming book, Paul Whitlatch of Hachette Books, sent me a link to a recent New York Times article on a woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 4 years ago. The author, N.R. Kleinfeld–a magnificent writer, by the way–says this about Geri’s Taylor’s life now, i.e., before the disease has done excessive injury to her brain:
“Right now, she remained energized, in control of her life, the silent attack on her brain not yet in full force. But what about next week? Next month? Next year? The disease would be there then. And the year after. And forever. It has no easy parts. It nicks away at you, its progress messy and unpredictable.”
I usually take this kind of article in my stride, but today I became really depressed and despondent while reading it. While Geri Taylor is, indeed, a remarkable woman–mostly upbeat, active in a dementia support community, and otherwise strongly socially engaged, Kleinfeld’s description of symptoms that I have in common with her as well as symptoms that still await me made my usual “go” drain away and I really just wanted to go sit on the couch and stare at the shadows on the wall. I did not, of course. Instead, Peter invited me on a lovely outing on the bus to get coffee downtown. I told him of my deflation and how I felt while reading: “If dementia is already such hard work for me every hour of the day while I am not even very far along in the process, I don’t know how long I could carry on with relatively good cheer. I can quite imagine that a few years of this–of course a “this” that gets worse all the time–could make me ready to call it quits.” I assured him I was fine for now, but the future did loom today rather than just be there as a space still filled with possibilities.
With a lopsided grin, I added that the fact that the New York Times published such a lengthy article about dementia must bode well for my book when it comes out in June 2016!
Here is the article. It is very long–and may have a depressive effect on you too–but if you know someone with dementia, you need this information. If I can read it, so can you! Let me know what you think. Geri Taylor’s dementia.
May 10, 2016 @ 9:08 pm
I love you Gerda. You are the bravest most elegant and perceptive person I know. As I follow your blog and read more about others who are navigating these same waters, I feel so grateful to you for the wisdom and day to day insights that you impart to all of us. You give a great gift every day to all of us as you stride through this journey in your red plaid and purple ensemble, which reminds us to cherish each day and remember to smile. And maybe laugh a little. And love a lot. Missing you both but we will see you soon. Love you, Mary
May 11, 2016 @ 3:22 pm
Dearest Mary, you give me too much credit for doing what my “nature” tells me to do! Which includes the wearing of the red plaid and purple ensemble-you seem to like my thrift shop finds:) Thanks for your love and concern and kindness in every interaction I’ve ever had with you. Looking forward to seeing you when you’re back. I hope you are RESTING…